title: Elevated expression of genes assigned to NF-kappaB and apoptotic pathways in human periodontal ligament fibroblasts following mechanical stretch.
abstract: There is growing evidence that apoptosis involves the nuclear transcription factor NF-kappaB in conjunction with related genes. However, in the context of mechanical orthodontic forces, force-sensing target genes assigned to pathways of NF-kappaB and apoptosis have not been fully characterised. To contribute to the identification of putative target genes, we used cDNA arrays specific for NF-kappaB and apoptotic pathways and analysed elevated gene expression in primary human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDL-F) after a 6 h application of mechanical force. Among several identified genes (including several caspases), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and NF-kappaB displayed significantly higher expression on the NF-kappaB array, whereas higher expression was obtained for BCL2-antagonist of cell death (BAD), member 6 of the TNF-receptor superfamily (FAS) and CASP2 and RIPK1 domain-containing adaptor with death domain (CRADD) on the apoptosis array. Based on a defined cut-off level of a more than 1.5-fold higher expression, this significance in elevated gene expression was corroborated by reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Here, semi-quantitative (sq) PCR revealed a more pronounced elevation of mRNA gene expression in PDL-F after 6 h of stretch, when compared with 12 h. Moreover, the elevation after 6 h as observed by sq-PCR was convergent with quantitative PCR (q-PCR). q-PCR yielded levels of 5.8-fold higher relative gene expression for IL-1 beta and 1.7-fold for NF-kappaB, whereas that computed for BAD indicated a 5.2-fold, for CRADD a 2.1-fold and for FAS a 2.0-fold higher expression. The data obtained from the expression analysis thus indicate a stretch-induced transcriptional elevation of genes assigned to the NF-kappaB and apoptotic pathways. This elevation may render them target candidates for being addressed by mechanical orthodontic forces.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Dental School, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mussig
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kohl
authors.forename: Gerda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Komposch
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tomakidi
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B