Effects of TAZ on human dental pulp stem cell proliferation and migration

Mol Med Rep. 2017 Jun;15(6):4326-4332. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2017.6550. Epub 2017 May 3.

Abstract

Transcriptional coactivator with PDZ‑binding motif (TAZ) acts as the key downstream regulatory target in the Hippo signaling pathway. TAZ overexpression has been reported to promote cellular proliferation and induce epithelial‑mesenchymal transition in human mammary epithelial cells. However, the effects of TAZ in the regulation of human dental pulp stem cell (hDPSC) proliferation and migration, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying its actions, remain to be elucidated. The present study demonstrated that TAZ was expressed in hDPSCs. TAZ silencing, following hDPSC transfection with TAZ‑specific small interfering (si)RNA (siTAZ), inhibited cellular proliferation and migration in vitro. These effects appeared to be associated with the downregulation of connecting tissue growth factor (CTGF) and cysteine‑rich angiogenic inducer (Cyr) 61 expression. Further investigation of the mechanisms underlying the actions of TAZ in hDPSCs revealed that TAZ silencing suppressed CTGF and Cyr61 expression by interfering with transforming growth factor (TGF)‑β signaling pathways. The present results suggested that TAZ may be implicated in the proliferation and migration of hDPSCs, through the modulation of CTGF and Cyr61 expression via a TGF‑β‑dependent signaling pathway.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Movement / physiology*
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology*
  • Connective Tissue Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Cysteine-Rich Protein 61 / metabolism
  • Dental Pulp / metabolism*
  • Down-Regulation / physiology
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / physiology
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-Binding Motif Proteins
  • Transfection / methods
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Cysteine-Rich Protein 61
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-Binding Motif Proteins
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • WWTR1 protein, human
  • Connective Tissue Growth Factor