Cartilage acidic protein 1 (CRTAC1) is an extracellular matrix protein of human chondrogenic tissue that is also present in other vertebrates, non-vertebrate eukaryotes and in some prokaryotes. The function of CRTAC1 remains unknown but the protein's structure indicates a role in cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions and calcium-binding. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro effects of hCRTAC1-A on normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF). A battery of in vitro assays (biochemical and PCR), immunofluorescence and a biosensor approach were used to characterize the protein's biological activities on NHDF cells in a scratch assay. Gene expression analysis revealed that hCRTAC1-A protein is associated with altered levels of expression for genes involved in the processes of cell proliferation (CXCL12 and NOS2), cell migration (AQP3 and TNC), and extracellular matrix-ECM regeneration and remodeling (FMOD, TIMP1, FN1) indicating a role for hCRTAC1-A in promoting these activities in a scratch assay. In parallel, the candidate processes identified by differential gene transcription were substantiated and extended using Electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) technology, immunofluorescence and cell viability assays. Our findings indicate that hCRTAC1-A stimulated cell proliferation, migration and ECM production in primary human fibroblasts in vitro.

中文翻译：

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软骨酸性蛋白1促进人类原代皮肤成纤维细胞的细胞活力，细胞增殖和能量代谢增加。

软骨酸性蛋白1（CRTAC1）是人类软骨组织的细胞外基质蛋白，也存在于其他脊椎动物，非脊椎动物真核生物和某些原核生物中。CRTAC1的功能仍然未知，但该蛋白的结构表明在细胞-细胞或细胞-基质相互作用和钙结合中的作用。本研究的目的是评估hCRTAC1-A对正常人皮肤成纤维细胞（NHDF）的体外作用。一系列体外测定（生化和PCR），免疫荧光和生物传感器方法被用于在划痕测定中表征蛋白质对NHDF细胞的生物学活性。基因表达分析表明，hCRTAC1-A蛋白与细胞增殖过程中涉及的基因（CXCL12和NOS2）的表达水平改变有关，细胞迁移（AQP3和TNC）以及细胞外基质ECM再生和重塑（FMOD，TIMP1，FN1）表明hCRTAC1-A在刮擦测定中促进这些活性的作用。同时，使用电细胞-底物阻抗传感（ECIS）技术，免疫荧光和细胞生存力测定，证实并扩展了通过差异基因转录鉴定的候选过程。我们的发现表明，hCRTAC1-A在体外刺激了人类原代成纤维细胞的细胞增殖，迁移和ECM产生。通过差异细胞基因转录鉴定的候选过程已得到证实，并使用电子细胞底物阻抗传感（ECIS）技术，免疫荧光和细胞生存力测定法进行了扩展。我们的发现表明，hCRTAC1-A在体外刺激了人类原代成纤维细胞的细胞增殖，迁移和ECM产生。通过差异细胞基因转录鉴定的候选过程已得到证实，并使用电子细胞底物阻抗传感（ECIS）技术，免疫荧光和细胞生存力测定法进行了扩展。我们的发现表明，hCRTAC1-A在体外刺激了人类原代成纤维细胞的细胞增殖，迁移和ECM产生。