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Expression of stem cell factor and its receptor, c‐kit, in human oral mesenchymal cells
Author(s) -
Gagari Eleni,
Rand Matthew K.,
Tayari Lili,
Vastardis Heleni,
Sharma Parul,
Hauschka Peter V.,
Damoulis Petros D.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0722.2006.00388.x
Subject(s) - stem cell factor , receptor tyrosine kinase , mesenchymal stem cell , proto oncogene proteins c kit , microbiology and biotechnology , cell culture , cell , stem cell , flow cytometry , biology , progenitor cell , chemistry , receptor , signal transduction , biochemistry , genetics
Stem cell factor (SCF) is the pleiotropic ligand for the tyrosine kinase receptor, c‐kit. Ligand and receptor are usually expressed in different cell types, and binding of SCF to c‐kit promotes cell proliferation, differentiation, and recruitment of progenitor cells in various biologic systems. However, the localization of these two molecules in cells of the oral cavity has not been systematically examined. We investigated the expression of SCF and c‐kit in human dental pulp (HDP) cells as well as in human gingival fibroblasts (HGF). Both alternatively spliced isoforms of SCF were detected (through reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction) in RNA obtained from the two cell types. Western analysis established that both cell types express SCF and/or c‐kit, whereas flow cytometry demonstrated distinct cell populations expressing only the ligand (SCF), only the receptor (c‐kit), or co‐expressing the two. HDP cultures showed higher soluble SCF (sSCF) production associated with faster cell growth, as compared with HGF cultures. In both cell types, however, sSCF levels appeared to increase as a result of in vitro aging and/or differentiation.