Ruth A. Foster

Isolation, characterization and immunolocalization of a 53-kDal dentin sialoprotein (DSP).

We isolated a sialic-rich protein from rat dentin extracts and have named it dentin sialoprotein, DSP (formerly called 95K glycoprotein). DSP is rich in aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine and serine, but contains no cysteine or phosphate. The 30% carbohydrate content includes about 9% sialic acid and indicates that several N-glycosides and O-glycosides are present. Sedimentation equilibrium analysis gave a M(r) of 52,570. Based on this molecular weight we calculated that DSP contains about 350-amino acids and 75 monosaccharides. With automated Edman degradation the sequence of the first 8-amino acids was shown to be: Ile-Pro-Val-Pro-Gln-Leu-Val-Pro. The initial 3 residues of this sequence are identical to the first 3 in human osteopontin (OPN) and are closely similar to the Leu-Pro-Val sequences of OPN from other species, as well as at the beginning of bone acidic glycoprotein-75 (BAG-75). On Western immunoblots, purified polyclonal antibodies reacted only with DSP in dentin extracts and with none of the proteins from bone. Similarly, immunolocalization experiments showed the presence of DSP in dentin but not in enamel or alveolar bone. Along with immunohistochemical localization data reported elsewhere, these observations suggest that DSP may be an important marker for cells in the odontoblast lineage.

Human bone sialoprotein I and II enhance fibroblast attachment in vitro

There is considerable evidence indicat ing that proteins which have the c a p a c i t y to e n h a n c e cel l a t tachment and spreading play an important role in the regulation of cell behavior (1-3). For example, such p r o t e i n s may con t ro l e m b r y o n i c d e v e l o p m e n t , ce l l g r o w t h , cel l d i f fe ren t ia t ion and invasion of tissues by malignant cells. A common RGD ( a r g g l y a s p ) p e p t i d e sequence has been i d e n t i f i e d in the reg ion associated with cell a t tachment in several of these proteins (4).

Characteristics of human periodontal ligament cells in vitro

Periodontal ligament cells may have a role in the regulation of hard and soft periodontal tissues, but their specific function has yet to be determined. To evaluate further their role in periodontal homeostasis, they were examined for osteoblast-like behaviour; in vitro no characteristic osteoblastic responsiveness was found. Periodontal ligament cells gave a PGE2- and isoproterenol-mediated cAMP response, but did not respond in a similar fashion to calcitonin or PTH. When exposed to PGE2, isoproterenol, or 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3, they did not exhibit an increase in protein production, as measured by [35S]-methionine incorporation. Immunofluorescent localization indicated that periodontal ligament cells produce a bone-associated protein, osteonectin. In addition, mRNA levels for osteonectin and bone proteoglycan I (biglycan) were detected in these cells, in vitro. This information should help to clarify the role such cells play in the regulation of periodontal tissues.

Cell attachment activity of the 44 kilodalton bone phosphoprotein is not restricted to bone cells

Proteins that promote cell migration, attachment and spreading are considered to play an important role in the regulation of cell function. Recently, a 44 kilodalton bone phosphoprotein (44K BPP) was shown to enhance the attachment of gingival fibroblasts and osteoblasts in vitro. The potential importance of this attachment protein in the regulation of mineralized tissue homeostasis prompted us to evaluate its ability to promote the attachment and migration of several other cell types. All the fibroblast cell lines and non-transformed calvaria cell lines assayed exhibited enhanced attachment and spreading in response to 44K BPP. Rat osteosarcoma cells (ROS 17/2.8) expressing osteoblast-like features, exhibited enhanced attachment in response to 44K BPP, while non-osteoblast-like cells (ROS 25/1) obtained from the same osteosarcoma did not. Two epithelial cell lines, CCL4 and A431, demonstrated enhanced attachment when exposed to fibronectin or laminin, but not 44K BPP. Another epithelial-like cell line, HT 1080, derived from a fibrosarcoma, showed enhanced attachment in the presence of all three attachment proteins. Fibronectin, but not 44K BPP, promoted the chemotactic migration of fibroblasts. These studies indicate that the role of 44K BPP attachment protein in the regulation of cell behavior is not restricted to bone cells.

Enhancement by extracts of mineralized tissues of protein production by human gingival fibroblasts in vitro

Non-confluent cell cultures were exposed to both guanidine and guanidine-EDTA extracts of cementum, dentine and alveolar bone, at concentrations from 2 to 50 micrograms/ml for 48 h. The cells were radioactively labelled during the last 24 h. Total protein production was measured via incorporation of radioactive proline; collagen production was estimated by digestion of the radioactive protein mixture with bacterial collagenase. All guanidine-EDTA extracts elicited statistically-significant increases in total protein production when compared to controls. At 50 micrograms/ml of extract, the increase in protein production was 340, 143 and 338 per cent for bone, cementum and dentine, respectively. Similar results were obtained for collagen production. Guanidine-EDTA extracts also stimulated an increase in the production of specific proteins, as ascertained by gel electrophoresis. In contrast, the guanidine extracts had no effect on either protein or collagen production. Thus the functions of gingival fibroblasts can be altered by proteins from associated mineralized tissues. Identification of such proteins and their biological functions would enhance knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate connective-tissue regeneration.

Persistent spreading of ligament cells on osteopontin/bone sialoprotein-I or collagen enhances tolerance to heat shock

Fibronectin (FN), bone sialoprotein-I (BSP-I), Type I collagen, and a number of synthetic peptides containing the integrin attachment sequence (RDG) were evaluated for their ability to affect stress tolerance in osteo-ligament cells (OL). The attachment and spreading of OL cells was determined by the method of Klebe (1974) and Akiyama et al. (1986). Survival from heat shock was evaluated after the methods of Gerner et al. (1976). These studies showed that FN, BSP-I, and synthetic RGD peptides enhance attachment of OL cells. Increased survival from heat was limited to cells spread on fibronectin, BSP-I, and Type I collagen. OL cells that persistently spread on BSP-I and Type I collagen had more survivors than cells demonstrating transient spreading on FN. These studies indicate that (a) cell spreading is a prerequisite for stress tolerance and (b) enhanced stress tolerance is mediated by protein sequences other than those immediately surrounding the RGD sites in native proteins.

Expression of constitutive and inducible HSP70 and HSP47 is enhanced in cells persistently spread on OPN1 or collagen

Cells persistently spread on OPN or collagen survive heat shock better than cells transiently spread on fibronectin or tissue culture plates. Thus, a central question is whether constitutively or inducible stress proteins are enhanced in cells grown on adhesive proteins that maintain a persistent spread cell shape. Levels of Hsp 72,73, and colligin/Hsp47 were determined by Western blot analyses. The inducible Hsp 72 was prominently expressed following heat shock in cells grown on OPN or collagen, but not in cells plated on fibronectin coated substratum or on tissue culture plates. Colligin/Hsp 47 and Hsp 73 manifested a similar pattern of expression indicating that these adhesive attachment proteins accommodate cell function through organization of cell architecture.

The expression of colligin/hsp47 after stress in human periodontal fibroblasts in vitro

Fibroblasts from human periodontal ligaments were grown in vitro. The levels of collagen and total protein in these cells were compared with subject- and passage-matched gingival fibroblasts. In 3 subjects the levels of both were greater in ligament than in gingival fibroblasts. These increased levels were also associated with increased levels of proteins reacting with anti-colligin/hsp47 antibodies on SDS-PAGE. Ligament and gingival fibroblasts were subjected to heat shock, sodium arsenite and the amino acid analogue AZC. These studies showed that (a) sodium arsenite and AZC enhanced the cellular levels of hsp47 in both types of fibroblast, (b) the colligin/hsp47 levels expressed were associated with elevated levels of protein and collagen production and (c) the presence of colligin/hsp47 was decreased under conditions of serum deprivation.