Cyclic tension promotes osteogenic differentiation in human periodontal ligament stem cells

Orthodontic forces result in alveolar bone resorption and formation predominantly on the pressure and tension sides of the tooth roots, respectively. Human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) have demonstrated the capacity to differentiate into osteoblasts, and they play important roles in maintaining homeostasis and regenerating periodontal tissues. However, little is known about how PDLSCs contribute to osteoblastogenesis during orthodontic tooth movement on the tension side. In this study, we applied a 12% cyclic tension force to PDLSCs cultured in osteoinductive medium. The osteogenic markers Runx2, ALP, and OCN were detected at the mRNA and protein levels at different time points using real-time PCR and western blot analyses. We discovered that the mRNA and protein levels of Runx2, ALP and OCN were significantly up-regulated after 6, 12 and 24 hours of mechanical loading on PDLSCs compared to levels in unstimulated PDLSCs (P < 0.05). This study demonstrates, for the first time, the effects of mechanical tensile strain on the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs, as examined with a Flexcell FX-4000T Tension Plus System. Our findings suggested that cyclic tension could promote the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs. Furthermore, the effects of orthodontic force on alveolar bone remodeling might be achieved by PDLSCs.