title: Basic calcium phosphate crystal-induced Egr-1 expression stimulates mitogenesis in human fibroblasts.
abstract: Previously, we have reported that basic calcium phosphate (BCP) crystals stimulate mitogenesis and synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases in cultured human foreskin and synovial fibroblasts. However, the detailed mechanisms involved are still unclear. In the present study, using RT-PCR and Egr-1 promoter analysis we showed that BCP crystals could stimulate early growth response gene Egr-1 transcription through a PKCalpha-dependent p44/p42 MAPK pathway. Using a retrovirus gene expression system (Clontech) to overexpress Egr-1 in human fibroblast BJ-1 cells resulted in promotion of mitogenesis measured either by MTT cell proliferation analysis or by direct cell counting. The results demonstrate that Egr-1 may play a key role in mediating BCP crystal-induced synovial fibroblast mitogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gablek, FL 33146, USA.
authors.forename: Xiao R
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Yubo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Leonor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wenger
authors.forename: Herman S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003460:Crystallization; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497325:EGR1 protein, human; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; C020243:calcium phosphate; C496628:PRKCA protein, human; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3