title: Cellular response to force application at craniofacial sutures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a comprehensive review of the literature describing research done on the responses of suture cells to force application in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This review outlines the types of forces that can be applied, methods of applying the forces, the sutures used in experiments, and the changes in morphology, molecular biology (gene and protein expression), and cell biology (proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis) in response to these forces.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The molecular response of sutures to force needs to be further investigated as these molecules can be used to enhance the way in which craniofacial sutures respond to mechanical force during orthopedic-orthodontic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Dallas, TX 75266-0677, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alaqeel
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hinton
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Opperman
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical