Molecular Mechanism of Basic Calcium Phosphate Crystal-induced Activation of Human Fibroblasts: Role of Nuclear Factor Kappa B, Activator Protein 1, and Protein Kinase C

Synovial fluid basic calcium phosphate (BCP) crystals are markers of severe joint degeneration in osteoarthritis. BCP crystals cause mitogenesis of articular cells and stimulate matrix metalloprotease production, thus promoting degradation of articular tissues. Previous work suggested that BCP cryst...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of biological chemistry 1998-12, Vol.273 (52), p.35161-35169
Main Authors: McCarthy, G M, Augustine, JA, Baldwin, A S, Christopherson, P A, Cheung, H S, Westfall, PR, Scheinman, R I
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Synovial fluid basic calcium phosphate (BCP) crystals are markers of severe joint degeneration in osteoarthritis. BCP crystals cause mitogenesis of articular cells and stimulate matrix metalloprotease production, thus promoting degradation of articular tissues. Previous work suggested that BCP crystal-induced cell activation required intracellular crystal dissolution, induction of proto-oncogene expression, and activation of signal transduction pathways involving protein kinase C and mitogen-activated protein kinases. Here we further elucidate the mechanisms of BCP crystal-induced cell activation as BCP crystals activate transcription factors nuclear factor Kappa B and activator protein 1 in human fibroblasts. We confirm the role of protein kinase C in BCP crystal-induced mitogenesis in human fibroblasts. In contrast, we demonstrate that BCP crystals do not activate signal transduction pathways involving protein tyrosine kinases or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. These data further define the mechanism of cell activation by BCP crystals and confirm its selectivity, an observation that may have therapeutic implications.
ISSN:0021-9258
DOI:10.1074/jbc.273.52.35161