Human connective tissue growth factor expressed in Escherichia coli is a non-mitogenic inhibitor of apoptosis

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2003-11, Vol.311 (3), p.685-690
• Main Authors: Gygi, Daniel, Zumstein, Peter, Grossenbacher, Doris, Altwegg, Lukas, Lüscher, Thomas F, Gehring, Heinz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Apoptosis; Apoptosis inhibition; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins - chemistry; Blotting, Northern; Cell survival factor; Cells, Cultured; Chickens; Cloning, Molecular; Connective Tissue Growth Factor; Cysteine-rich protein; DNA, Complementary - metabolism; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - metabolism; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Humans; Immediate-Early Proteins - biosynthesis; Immediate-Early Proteins - genetics; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - biosynthesis; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - genetics; Mice; Mitogens - metabolism; Molecular Sequence Data; NIH 3T3 Cells; Recombinant Proteins - metabolism; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Thioredoxins - metabolism; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2003.10.061

After cloning and sequencing chicken connective tissue growth factor (cCTGF) we showed that in serum-deprived chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) the initial decline of cCTGF mRNA was followed by an increase. Human CTGF that was produced as a soluble protein in Escherichia coli by thioredoxin co-expression inhibited serum-deprivation induced apoptosis of CEF at I50 of ∼8pM, demonstrating a function of CTGF at concentrations observed in supernatants of fibroblasts. CTGF was neither mitogenic for CEF nor for other cell types. In conclusion CTGF supports very efficiently survival of certain cells without stimulating their cell growth.