Transforming Growth Factor β1-Induced Heat Shock Protein 27 Activation Promotes Migration of Mouse Dental Papilla-derived MDPC-23 Cells

Introduction: Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) regulates cellular functions including cell growth, differentiation, angiogenesis, migration, and metastasis. The TGF beta 1 signal transduction pathways are mostly undefined in mouse dental papilla-derived MDPC-23 cells. In this study, we investigated TGF beta 1-induced migration focusing on heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) activation. Methods: Cellular responses mediated by TGF beta 1 in MDPC-23 cells were measured by Western blot and MIT assays. Cell migration was determined by counting migrated cells using the chemotaxis cell migration assay. Results: TGF beta 1 induced cell migration and increased the phosphorylation of Hsp27 and p38 MAPK in MDPC-23 cells. However, TGF beta 1 did not affect Akt/NF-kappa B signaling to regulate the migration of MDPC-23 cells. Inhibiting p38 MAPK with SB203580 blocked TGF beta 1-induced Hsp27 activation and cell migration. Conclusion: Hsp27 phosphorylation followed by p38 MAPK activation was required for TGF beta 1-induced migration, and Hsp27 itself contributed to MDPC-23 cell migration. (J Endod 2010;36:1332-1335)