title: bFGF-induced human periodontal ligament fibroblasts proliferation through T-type voltage-dependent calcium channels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that T-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (T-CaCNs) are involved in basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced proliferation of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPLFs).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study examined the expression of the T-type calcium channel sub-units Ca(V) 3.1, Ca(V) 3.2 and Ca(V) 3.3 in HPLFs by real-time PCR. Mibefradil, a T-CaCNs antagonist, was used to block the effect of T-CaCNs and the proliferation of HPLFs was evaluated by the water-soluble tetrazolium (WST) assay. The level of intracellular calcium was measured by laser confocal microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of the three subunits of T-CaCNs in HPLFs was detected, which was strongly up-regulated upon stimulation by bFGF. The proliferation of HPLFs induced by bFGF was decreased significantly by treatment with Mibefradil. This effect was associated with the decreased expression of T-CaCNs and a decreased level of intracellular calcium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of the T-CaCNs affected the proliferation of HPLFs that was induced by bFGF, indicating that T-CaCNs could be important in mediating periodontal ligament (PDL) remodeling.
authors.affiliation: School of Stomatology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR China.
authors.forename: Dong-Fei
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Chun-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Miao-Miao
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Jiao
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020748:Mibefradil / Q000494:pharmacology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D020748:Mibefradil; D002118:Calcium