PubMed2003
Extracellular nucleotides exert an important role in controlling cell physiology by activating intracellular signalling cascades. Osteoblast HOBIT cells express P2Y(1) and P2Y(2) G-protein-coupled receptors, and respond to extracellular ATP by increasing cytosolic calcium concentrations. Early growth response protein 1 (Egr-1) is a C(2)H(2)-zinc-finger-containing transcriptional regulator responsible for the activation of several genes involved in the control of cell proliferation and apoptosis, and is thought to have a central role in osteoblast biology. We show that ATP treatment of HOBIT cells increases Egr-1 protein levels and binding activity via a mechanism involving a Ca(2+)-independent protein kinase C isoform. Moreover, hypotonic stress and increased medium turbulence, by inducing ATP release, result in a similar effect on Egr-1. Increased levels of Egr-1 protein expression and activity are achieved at very early times after stimulation (5 min), possibly accounting for a rapid way for changing the osteoblast gene-expression profile. A target gene for Egr-1 that is fundamental in osteoblast physiology, COL1A2, is up-regulated by ATP stimulation of HOBIT cells in a timescale that is compatible with that of Egr-1 activation.