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

IntroductionTransforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) regulates cellular functions including cell growth, differentiation, angiogenesis, migration, and metastasis. The TGFβ1 signal transduction pathways are mostly undefined in mouse dental papilla-derived MDPC-23 cells. In this study, we investigated TGFβ1-induced migration focusing on heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) activation.MethodsCellular responses mediated by TGFβ1 in MDPC-23 cells were measured by Western blot and MTT assays. Cell migration was determined by counting migrated cells using the chemotaxis cell migration assay.ResultsTGFβ1 induced cell migration and increased the phosphorylation of Hsp27 and p38 MAPK in MDPC-23 cells. However, TGFβ1 did not affect Akt/NF-κB signaling to regulate the migration of MDPC-23 cells. Inhibiting p38 MAPK with SB203580 blocked TGFβ1-induced Hsp27 activation and cell migration.ConclusionHsp27 phosphorylation followed by p38 MAPK activation was required for TGFβ1-induced migration, and Hsp27 itself contributed to MDPC-23 cell migration.