Progesterone modulates the proliferation and differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells.
Hormone deficiency has been recognized as a risk factor for periodontal disease in postmenopausal women. However, the anabolic effects of progesterone on human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) are still unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to detect the expression of progesterone receptor (PgR) in hPDLCs and investigate the bone-sparing effects of progesterone. We detected PgR expression in hPDLCs by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry. After progesterone stimulation, the percentage of hPDLCs entering the S + G2M phase of the cell cycle increased significantly, accompanied by an increased cell growth curve. In both basic culture medium and osteogenic medium, progesterone activated alkaline phosphatase-positive cells and alizarin red-positive nodules. Moreover, mineralization-related markers were up-regulated by progesterone in both time-dependent and dose-dependent manners. In contrast, these effects of progesterone were blocked by the PgR antagonist (RU486). Our results demonstrated that the PgR is expressed in hPDLCs at the gene and protein level, and that progesterone can stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of the hPDLCs. These findings suggest that progesterone may play a significant role in osteoblastic function of hPDLCs and may influence the maintenance of alveolar bone mass.
Yuan
Gongjie
G
Department of Orthodontics, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China.
Cai
Chuan
C
Dai
Juan
J
Liu
Yali
Y
Zhang
Rui
R
Dai
Yuanyuan
Y
Wen
Li
L
Ding
Yin
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
D003470:Culture Media; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011374:Progesterone; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase