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Basic calcium phosphate crystals stimulate cell proliferation and collagenase message accumulation in cultured adult
P G Mitchell1, J A Struve, G M McCarthy
1Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
Objective:
To investigate BCP (basic calcium phosphate) crystal-stimulated mitogenesis and collagenase gene transcription in primary cultures of porcine chondrocytes.
Methods:
The role of protein kinases in BCP crystal-stimulated DNA synthesis was investigated using thymidine incorporation, kinase inhibitors, and protein kinase C (PKC) assays. Northern blot analysis was used to determine the levels of collagenase c-fos and c-jun message.
Results:
BCP crystals stimulated chondrocyte proliferation in a PKC-dependent manner. Increased levels of collagenase message were preceded by an increased accumulation of c-fos, but not c-jun.
Conclusion:
BCP crystals could contribute to the abnormal chondrocyte proliferation and collagenase secretion observed in some rheumatic diseases.