| 1081 Decreased Smad7 expression enhanced transforming growth factor-¦Â1-induced differentiation of human dental pulp cells | ||
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W.X. HE, School of Dentistry,The 4th Military Medical University, xi'an, China, Z. NIU, 306 Hospital, Beijing, China, S.L. ZHAO, School of dentistry, The 4th Military Medical University, xi'an, China, and A.J. SMITH, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom Objectives: Smad7 has been identified as a negative regulator of transforming growth factor b (TGF-b) signaling by interfering with the phosphorylation of other Smad proteins by TGF-b receptor type I (TbRI). This study was aimed to investigate the role and modulation of Smad7 protein in TGF-b1-induced differentiation of cultured human dental pulp cells (HDPC). Methods: Endogenous Smad7 mRNA expression and modulation was evaluated by Northern blot analyses. The change of intracellular location of Smad7 was determined by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Smad7 function and its role in human dental pulp cells was determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Results: We found that the mRNA level of Smad7 was up-regulated by TGF-b1 by Northern blot. Smad7 was activated and translocated from nucleus to cytoplasm after 30 minutes of treatment by TGF-b1 treatment as visualised by laser scanning. When HDPC were treated for 7 days with 1mmol/L Smad7-antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-Smad7) in the presence of TGF-b1. Western blot analysis indicated that Smad7 protein level was reduced by 60%. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed up-regulation fibronectin, osteocalcin, osf2/cbfa1 transcription factor, pro-alpha2 (I) collagen in HDPC. Conclusions: Smad7 pathway was functional in human dental pulp cells and appeared to act as a negative regulator to be involved in TGF-b1-induced differentiation of human dental pulp cells. | ||
| Seq #112 - Growth Factors; Regulation of Cell Function; Forensic Dentistry 3:45 PM-5:00 PM, Thursday, 7 March 2002 San Diego Convention Center Exhibit Hall C | ||
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