A molecular mechanism of integrin regulation from bone cells stimulated by orthodontic forces

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a molecular mechanism in the signal transduction pathways of the regulation of integrin genes taking place in bones cells as a result of orthodontic or mechanical stimulation. Human osteosarcoma (HOS) TE-85 cells were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM)/F-12 and grown to confluency in Flexercell type I dishes and orthodontic forces were applied to the cells via an intermittent strain of 3 cycles/minute using the Flexercell Strain Unite System for periods of 15 and 30 minutes, 2 and 24 hours and 3 days. Antibodies against beta 1 and alpha v integrins were immunolocalized in strained and unstrained cultures. Total RNA was extracted and cDNA probes were used to measure at various mRNA expression of beta 1 (1.2 kb) and alpha v (1.1 kb) integrins. A cDNA probe for cyclophylin (750 b) was used for controls of gene expression. Results showed that mechanical stimulation caused a reorganization of integrin distribution in comparison with non-stimulated controls. mRNA for beta 1 expression showed a marked increase at 30 minutes and 3 days, while mRNA levels for alpha v did not change with strain. The selective expression of integrins mRNA is indicative of a specific gene regulation by mechanical stimulation in the cells studied.