1998 Volume 40 Issue 6 Pages 611-621
Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1, ) is one of the most potent local factors for modulating bone metabolism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible involvement of TGF-β1, in alveolar bone remodeling during experimental tooth movement. In 10-week-old male Wistar rats, the right maxillary molars were moved lingually with a fixed finger spring for 1, 3 and 7 days. The contralateral side was used as a control. The protein localization of TGF-β1 and TGF-β type II receptor was of the examined by immunohistology. In the tension zone, osteoblasts on day 3 and day 7 tooth movement were stained with antibodies for the cytokine and its receptor. Osteoclasts in bone-resorbing lacunae in the compression zone showed immunohistological staining for both proteins on day 1, 3, and 7. The strongest staining was found on day 3 of the tooth movement. Furthermore, mRNA levels of TGF-β1 and TGF-β type II receptor in the alveolar bone on day 3 of the tooth movement were measured by quantitative RT-PCR. TGF-β1 and the TGF-β type II receptor mRNA in alveolar bone significantly increased through the experimented tooth movement. Taken together, these data suggested that TGF-β1 and TGF-β type II receptor regulated bone formation and resorption during tooth movement.
