TGF-β1- and CCN2-Stimulated Sirius Red Assay for Collagen Accumulation in Cultured Cells.

A simple method for the determination of relative levels of insoluble collagen accumulation in fibroblast cultures is presented. Confluent cell cultures are provided with sodium ascorbate which is then permissive for collagen deposition. At intervals, cultures are fixed and stained successively with sirius red and then crystal Violet to, respectively, assess for relative changes in collagen accumulation in response to factors such as TGF-β1 or matricellular CCN2 and changes in DNA content as an index of changes in cell density.

A novel function for lysyl oxidase in pluripotent mesenchymal cell proliferation and relevance to inflammation-associated osteopenia.

Lysyl oxidase is a multifunctional enzyme required for collagen biosynthesis. Various growth factors regulate lysyl oxidase during osteoblast differentiation, subject to modulation by cytokines such as TNF-α in inflammatory osteopenic disorders including diabetic bone disease. Canonical Wnt signaling promotes osteoblast development.