title: The SPARC-related factor SMOC-2 promotes growth factor-induced cyclin D1 expression and DNA synthesis via integrin-linked kinase.
abstract: Secreted modular calcium-binding protein-2 (SMOC-2) is a recently-identified SPARC-related protein of unknown function. In mRNA profiling experiments we, found that SMOC-2 expression was elevated in quiescent (G0) mouse fibroblasts and repressed after mitogenic stimulation with serum. The G0-specific expression of SMOC-2 was similar to that of platelet-derived growth factor-beta receptor (PDGFbetaR), a major mitogenic receptor. Therefore, we tested a possible role for SMOC-2 in growth factor-induced cell cycle progression. SMOC-2 overexpression augmented DNA synthesis induced by serum and fibroblast mitogens (including PDGF-BB and basic fibroblast growth factor). Conversely, SMOC-2 ablation by using small interfering RNA attenuated DNA synthesis in response to PDGF-BB and other growth factors. Mitogen-induced expression of cyclin D1 was attenuated in SMOC-2-ablated cells, and cyclin D1-overexpressing cells were resistant to inhibition of mitogenesis after SMOC-2 ablation. Therefore, cyclin D1 is limiting for G1 progression in SMOC-2-deficient cells. SMOC-2 ablation did not inhibit PDGF-induced PDGFbetaR autophosphorylation or PDGF-BB-dependent activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and Akt kinases, suggesting that SMOC-2 is dispensable for growth factor receptor activation. However, integrin-linked kinase (ILK) activity was reduced in SMOC-2-ablated cells. Ectopic expression of hyperactive ILK corrected the defective mitogenic response of SMOC-2-deficient cells. Therefore, SMOC-2 contributes to cell cycle progression by maintaining ILK activity during G1. These results identify a novel role for SMOC-2 in cell cycle control.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Genetics and Genomics and The Pulmonary Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Peijun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jining
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Wellington V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Cyrus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vaziri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D044967:Serum; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000099200:Scaffold Protein ILK
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D019938:Cyclin D1; D004247:DNA; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta; D000099200:Scaffold Protein ILK; C513851:SMOC-2 protein, mouse