title: Development of a three-dimensional in vitro model system to study orthodontic tooth movement.
abstract: Few three-dimensional (3-D) models exist to study the cellular aspects and molecular regulation of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). The aim of this study was to develop a 3-D in vitro model to study mechanical loading of human periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts (hPDLF). hPDLF were seeded within collagen gels to form a PDLF analogue. Characterisation of the seeded collagen gels revealed that the gels supported cell proliferation, viability and the emergence of a possible contractile phenotype, replicating the constrained condition of the human PDL in vivo. We next developed a 3-D model that incorporated a seeded collagen gel interlocked mechanically at two ends to movable end plates. The movable end plates allowed for static tensile or compressive loading of the hPDLF-seeded collagen gels. Preliminary testings showed that this 3-D model mimicked PDL strains similar to those observed during OTM. Our 3-D model of OTM therefore offers promise for use as a model system in future studies to improve our understanding of the effects of OTM on PDLF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Heckler
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mirzaei
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: S-G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008954:Models, Biological; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology*; D010641:Phenotype; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D014087:Tooth Movement Techniques / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Collagen gels; Compression; Fibroblasts; Finite element analysis; Periodontal ligament cells; Tension; Tooth