SPOCK1 is a novel inducer of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in drug-induced gingival overgrowth

Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 17;10(1):9785. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-66660-z.

Abstract

Few studies have investigated the role of extracellular-matrix proteoglycans in the pathogenesis of drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO). SPOCK1 is an extracellular proteoglycan that induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in several cancer cell lines and exhibits protease-inhibitory activity. However, the role of SPOCK1 in non-cancerous diseases such as DIGO has not been well-addressed. We demonstrated that the expression of SPOCK1, TGF-β1, and MMP-9 in calcium channel blocker-induced gingival overgrowth is higher than that in non-overgrowth tissues. Transgenic mice overexpressing Spock1 developed obvious gingival-overgrowth and fibrosis phenotypes, and positively correlated with EMT-like changes. Furthermore, in vitro data indicated a tri-directional interaction between SPOCK1, TGF-β1, and MMP-9 that led to gingival overgrowth. Our study shows that SPOCK1 up-regulation in a noncancerous disease and SPOCK1-induced EMT in gingival overgrowth occurs via cooperation and crosstalk between several potential signaling pathways. Therefore, SPOCK1 is a novel therapeutic target for gingival overgrowth and its expression is a potential risk of EMT induction in cancerous lesions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition*
  • Gingival Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nifedipine / pharmacology
  • Proteoglycans / genetics
  • Proteoglycans / physiology*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Proteoglycans
  • SPOCK1 protein, human
  • Spock1 protein, mouse
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
  • Nifedipine