Osteopontin regulates the proliferation of rat aortic smooth muscle cells in response to gingipains treatment.
OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that OPN has an impact on the proliferation and differentiation of RASMCs stimulated by gingipains.
['Cao|Chong|C|', 'Luo|Xin|X|', 'Ji|Xiaowei|X|', 'Wang|Yao|Y|', 'Zhang|Yuan|Y|', 'Zhang|Pengtao|P|', 'Zhong|Liangjun|L|']
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial D000818:Animals D001011:Aorta D002454:Cell Differentiation D049109:Cell Proliferation D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases D005786:Gene Expression Regulation D000080867:Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle D053495:Osteopontin D034741:RNA, Small Interfering D051381:Rats
Proliferation OPN Rat smooth muscle cell