Journal of Dental Research, Vol 80, 461-465, Copyright © 2001 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Mechanical stimulation induces CTGF expression in rat osteocytes
T. Yamashiro, T. Fukunaga, N. Kobashi, H. Kamioka, T. Nakanishi, M. Takigawa and T. Takano-Yamamoto
Department of Orthodontics, Okayama University Dental School, Japan.
Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), which is encoded by an immediate
early gene and a member of the CCN family, has been shown to be expressed
in osteoblasts, fibroblasts, and chondrocytes. Although CTGF is expressed
in bone and cartilage tissues, we tested the hypothesis that CTGF is
regulated in mechanotransduction. In the alveolar bone during experimental
tooth movement, CTGF mRNA was expressed in osteoblasts and in osteocytes
localized around the periodontal ligament under control conditions.
Interestingly, 12 hrs after the start of experimental tooth movement, the
expression of CTGF mRNA in osteocytes and osteoblasts became more intense
around the periodontal ligament, and the intense expression of CTGF
extended to osteocytes situated deep in alveolar bone matrix apart from
periodontal ligament in both tension and compression sides. Our present
findings indicate that CTGF could play a role in regulation of osteocyte
function during the mechanical stimulation of bone.
