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Vol. 19, Issue 1, 248-261, January 2008
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*The Department of Genetics and Genomics and
The Pulmonary Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118
Submitted May 31, 2007;
Revised October 16, 2007;
Accepted October 30, 2007
Monitoring Editor: Jean Schwarzbauer
Secreted modular calcium-binding protein-2 (SMOC-2) is a recently-identified SPARC-related protein of unknown function. In mRNA profiling experiments we, found that SMOC-2 expression was elevated in quiescent (G0) mouse fibroblasts and repressed after mitogenic stimulation with serum. The G0-specific expression of SMOC-2 was similar to that of platelet-derived growth factor-β receptor (PDGFβR), a major mitogenic receptor. Therefore, we tested a possible role for SMOC-2 in growth factor-induced cell cycle progression. SMOC-2 overexpression augmented DNA synthesis induced by serum and fibroblast mitogens (including PDGF-BB and basic fibroblast growth factor). Conversely, SMOC-2 ablation by using small interfering RNA attenuated DNA synthesis in response to PDGF-BB and other growth factors. Mitogen-induced expression of cyclin D1 was attenuated in SMOC-2–ablated cells, and cyclin D1-overexpressing cells were resistant to inhibition of mitogenesis after SMOC-2 ablation. Therefore, cyclin D1 is limiting for G1 progression in SMOC-2–deficient cells. SMOC-2 ablation did not inhibit PDGF-induced PDGFβR autophosphorylation or PDGF-BB–dependent activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and Akt kinases, suggesting that SMOC-2 is dispensable for growth factor receptor activation. However, integrin-linked kinase (ILK) activity was reduced in SMOC-2–ablated cells. Ectopic expression of hyperactive ILK corrected the defective mitogenic response of SMOC-2–deficient cells. Therefore, SMOC-2 contributes to cell cycle progression by maintaining ILK activity during G1. These results identify a novel role for SMOC-2 in cell cycle control.
Address correspondence to: Cyrus Vaziri (cvaziri{at}bu.edu)
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