title: Osteopontin regulates the proliferation of rat aortic smooth muscle cells in response to gingipains treatment.
abstract: The present study aimed to explore the possible effects of osteopontin (OPN) in the proliferation of rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs) stimulated by gingipains.
  
  
  
  The proliferation of RASMCs in response to active gingipains treatment was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. OPN siRNA was designed, constructed and transfected into RASMCs at different concentrations. The cell cycle of RASMCs was analyzed by flow cytometry. OPN, α-SMA and calponin expression were examined by real-time PCR and western blot analysis.
  
  
  
  Gingipains promoted the proliferation of RASMCs and OPN expression. With siRNA-mediated OPN expression knockdown, the cell cycle of RASMCs was blocked in the G0/G1 phase. Furthermore, the expression of specific differentiation markers, α-SMA and calponin, also decreased.
  
  
  
  These results demonstrate that OPN has an impact on the proliferation and differentiation of RASMCs stimulated by gingipains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Caochong Dental Clinic, Urumqi 830054, China.
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, The Basic Medical Sciences College of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China.
authors.forename: Xiaowei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310015, China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; Department of Stomatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310015, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; Department of Stomatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310015, China.
authors.forename: Pengtao
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; Department of Stomatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310015, China. Electronic address: liangjunzhong11@sina.com.
authors.forename: Liangjun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D000080867:Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000080867:Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C506897:Spp1 protein, rat; D053495:Osteopontin; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases
keywords: OPN; Proliferation; Rat smooth muscle cell