Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026

Induction of Periodontitis via a Combination of Ligature and Lipopolysaccharide Injection in a Rat Model
Published on: February 17, 2023
bFGF-induced human periodontal ligament fibroblasts proliferation through T-type voltage-dependent calcium channels
Dong-Fei Feng1, Chun-Yu Wang, Han Wang
1School of Stomatology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, PR China.
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).
Materials And 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.
Related Concept Videos
TGF - β Signaling Pathway
Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins

