Effects of retinoic acid on differentiation of periodontal ligament cells / 华西口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of retinoic acid on differentiation of periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) and gingival fibroblasts (GFs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The periodontal ligament cells and gingival fibroblasts were cultured, challenged with different concentrations of retinoic acid in medium and detected for the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and its mRNA by biochemical technique, in situ hybridization and RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ALP activity in normal PDLCs was higher than that in GFs. The mRNA signals were positive in PDLCs, and negative in GFs. After treated with different concentrations of retinoic acid, ALP activity of PDLCs was increased than that of the control, and its mRNA signals were enhanced, especially in 5 x 10(-6) mol/L. The treated GFs showed a slight increase of ALP activity and a weak band of mRNA signals only in 5 x 10(-6) molUL concentration.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There were differences between PDLCs and GFs in differentiating into osteoblast-like cells.</p>