Increase of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in gingival crevicular fluid during human orthodontic tooth movement

The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in human gingival crevicular fluid, and to investigate changes during orthodontic tooth movement. Twelve patients (mean age, 14.4 yr) participated. An upper canine of each patient having one treatment for distal movement served as the experimental tooth; the contralateral and antagonistic canines were used as controls. The gingival crevicular fluid around the experimental and two control teeth was taken from each participant immediately before activation, and at 1, 24 and 168 h after the initiation of tooth movement. TGF-beta 1 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The concentration of TGF-beta 1 was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the controls at 24 h after the experiment had begun, whereas TGF-beta 1 remained at baseline throughout the experiment for the two control groups. The presence of TGF-beta 1 in the gingival crevicular fluid was also identified by Western blot analysis. These results suggest that TGF-beta 1 is associated with the bone remodelling that occurs during orthodontic tooth movement.