title: Cyclic stretch influenced expression of membrane connexin 43 in human periodontal ligament cell.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Periodontal ligament (PDL) cells play an important role in preserving periodontal homeostasis and periodontal remodelling in response to mechanical stimulations. Gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) is essential for homeostasis and many other biological processes of multicellular organisms. While the role of GJIC in mechanotransduction of PDL cells remains largely unknown. In the present study, we examined the influence of cyclic stretch on the expression of membrane gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43) in cultured human PDL cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultured human PDL cells were exposed to 1%, 10% and 20% stretch strains for 0.5 h, 1 h and 24 h. Then the membrane Cx43 protein expression was measured by flow cytometry and the Cx43 mRNA level was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Half hour and 1 h cyclic stretches with strains up to 20% did not change the expression of membrane Cx43 protein, while 24 h cyclic stretches with 10% and 20% strains down-regulated the expression of membrane Cx43 protein in a strain magnitude-dependent manner. Furthermore, cyclic stretch also changed the Cx43 mRNA level and induced realignment in cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present research provide the first evidence that cyclic stretch influenced the membrane Cx43 protein expression in cultured human PDL cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China. imxuchun@163.com
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Wenting
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Jiayin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Qingfeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Fuqiang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D012333:RNA, Messenger