The expression of colligin/hsp47 after stress in human periodontal fibroblasts in vitro.

Fibroblasts from human periodontal ligaments were grown in vitro. The levels of collagen and total protein in these cells were compared with subject- and passage-matched gingival fibroblasts. In 3 subjects the levels of both were greater in ligament than in gingival fibroblasts. These increased levels were also associated with increased levels of proteins reacting with anti-colligin/hsp47 antibodies on SDS-PAGE. Ligament and gingival fibroblasts were subjected to heat shock, sodium arsenite and the amino acid analogue AZC. These studies showed that (a) sodium arsenite and AZC enhanced the cellular levels of hsp47 in both types of fibroblast, (b) the colligin/hsp47 levels expressed were associated with elevated levels of protein and collagen production and (c) the presence of colligin/hsp47 was decreased under conditions of serum deprivation.