Periostin is required for matricellular localization of CCN3 in periodontal ligament of mice

CCN3 is a matricellular protein that belongs to the CCN family. CCN3 consists of 4 domains: insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-like domain (IGFBP), von Willebrand type C-like domain (VWC), thrombospondin type 1-like domain (TSP1), and the C-terminal domain (CT) having a cysteine knot motif. Periostin is a secretory protein that binds to extracellular matrix proteins such as fibronectin and collagen. In this study, we found that CCN3 interacted with periostin. Immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that the TSP1-CT interacted with the 4 repeats of the Fas 1 domain of periostin. Immunofluorescence analysis showed co-localization of CCN3 and periostin in the periodontal ligament of mice. In addition, targeted disruption of the periostin gene in mice decreased the matricellular localization of CCN3 in the periodontal ligament. Thus, these results indicate that periostin was required for the matricellular localization of CCN3 in the periodontal ligament, suggesting that periostin mediated an interaction between CCN3 and the extracellular matrix.