title: Effect of estrogen receptor beta on the osteoblastic differentiation function of human periodontal ligament cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) on osteoblastic differentiation function of human periodontal ligament (hPDL) cells by measuring the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the production of osteocalcin (OCN) in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  We employed a short interfering RNA (siRNA) technique to inhibit ERbeta expression in hPDL cells; the cells were cultured with a saturating concentration of 17beta-estradiol (10(-7)M). ALP activity was analysed by colorimetric assay using ALP kit and the amount of OCN was assessed by osteocalcin ELISA kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was shown that estradiol significantly enhanced the ALP activity and the production of OCN in hPDL cells. However, the ALP activity and the production of OCN in hPDL-siERbeta cells were not significantly changed after estradiol treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that ERbeta may play important roles in estrogen-induced effects on osteoblastic differentiation function of PDL cells and estrogen influences the bone formation capacity of PDL cells mainly via ERbeta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, College of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Ji-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000502:physiology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000378:metabolism*; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D004967:Estrogens; D015675:Osteocalcin; D004958:Estradiol; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase