title: [The biological effect of retinoic acid on cultured human periodontal ligament cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the biological effect of retinoic acid on cultured human periodontal ligament cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human periodontal ligament cells were cultured and challenged by retinoic acid with different concentrations. The cell morphology was observed under phase-contrast microscope; the cell proliferation activity was examined using MTT; the alkaline phosphatase activity was measured by enzyme kinetics method; the total amount of protein was assayed at different times.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Retinoic acid enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity and had no effect on morphology, proliferation and total protein synthesis of periodontal ligament cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retinoic acid improves periodontal ligament cells to differentiate into osteoblast like cells.
authors.affiliation: School of Stomatology, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China. wangyan1965@sdu.edu.au
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shuo-Zhi
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Pi-Shan
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014212:Tretinoin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase