Stretching modulates oxytalan fibers in human periodontal ligament cells

We subjected periodontal ligament fibroblasts to stretching strain to examine the effects on their formation of oxytalan fibers in cell/matrix layers.

Stretching increased the levels of fibrillin-1 and fibrillin-2 by 25% relative to the control, but did not affect the gene expression level of either type of fibrillin. Immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy analysis revealed that bundles of oxytalan fibers became thicker under stretching conditions.

These results suggest that tension strain functionally regulates microfibril assembly in periodontal ligament fibroblasts and thus may contribute to the homeostasis of oxytalan fibers in periodontal ligaments.