title: Expression and function of osteogenic genes runt-related transcription factor 2 and osterix in orthodontic tooth movement in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression and function of osteogenic genes osterix (OSX) and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) in the rat periodontal tissues under orthodontic force for the remodeling of the periodontal tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  24 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of orthodontic tooth movements for 1, 3, and 7 days (experimental groups) and control group (without orthodontic force). The expression of RUNX2 and OSX in the periodontal tissues was analyzed using real time PCR for mRNA and Western blot analysis for protein. The data were also analyzed for involvement of the two genes in signal pathways using bioinformatics tools.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mRNA levels of RUNX2 and OSX increased in the periodontal tissues after subjected to the orthodontic force for 1 to 7 days, with the highest level occurring at day 7. The relative expression levels of RUNX2 and OSX mRNA were 1.85 ± 0.12, 304 ± 0.06 and 4.16 ± 0.068, and 1.52 ± 0.09, 1.83 ± 0.03 and 2.56 ± 0.06 at day 1, 3 and 7, respectively. The results of Western blot analysis were consistent with the mRNA results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In orthodontic tooth movement, the expression of RUNX2 and OSX was upregulated as a result of external stimulation, suggesting that the two genes is involved in periodontal tissue remodeling and plays an important role in periodontal tissue remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University Hubei Province, Wuhan 430079, China ; Liaocheng People's Hospital Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Jinyou
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University Hubei Province, Wuhan 430079, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019295:Computational Biology; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009969:Orthodontic Wires; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D010519:Periodontium / Q000378:metabolism*; D060066:Protein Interaction Maps; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013997:Time Factors; D014087:Tooth Movement Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C493717:Runx2 protein, rat; C495181:Sp7 protein, rat; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Orthodontic force; osteogenic gene; periodontal tissue