ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of different inflammatory factors on hepatocyte kinase receptor(Eph)and ligand(ephrin)in human periodontal ligament fibroblasts(hPDLFs).Methods hPDLFs were stimulated with either 10 ng/ml tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)or 10 ng/ml interleukin(IL)-1β,and then the expressions of Eph and ephrin at both mRNA and protein levels were determined at 0,1,2,6,12,and 24 hours.Results The levels of Eph receptors and ephrin ligand changed in a time-dependent manner in human periodontal ligament fibroblasts after treatment with TNF-α or IL-1β. The expression of ephrinA2 significantly increased in both groups within 24 hours(all <0.05). In the TNF-α group,the mRNA expression of ephrinA2 significantly increased at 1 h and was significant higher that in the IL-1β group at 24 h(<0.05). EphB4 showed a time-dependent decline after a short period of high expression.Conclusions Both TNF-α and IL-1β can cause changes in the expressions of Eph receptors and ephrin ligands in hPDLFs. The changes induced by both are consistent,although the effect of TNF-α is more pronounced.