Transcriptional Expression in Human Periodontal Ligament Cells Subjected to Orthodontic Force: An RNA-Sequencing Study

Purpose : This study was performed to investigate the changes in gene expression in periodontal ligament (PDL) cells following mechanical stimulus through RNA sequencing. Method : Premolars extracted for orthodontic treatment were used. To stimulate the PDL cells, an orthodontic force of 100× g was applied to the premolar (experimental group; n = 11), whereas the tooth on the other side was left untreated (control group; n = 11). After the PDL cells were isolated from the extracted teeth, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis, and real-time PCR were performed to compare the two groups. Result : GSEA demonstrated that gene sets related to the cell cycle pathway were upregulated in PDL. Thirteen upregulated and twenty downregulated genes were found through DEG analysis. Real-time PCR results confirmed that five upregulated genes (CC2D1B, CPNE3, OPHN1, TANGO2, and UAP-1) and six downregulated genes (MYOM2, PPM1F, PCDP1, ATP2A1, GPR171, and RP1-34H18.1-1) were consistent with RNA sequencing results. Conclusion : Two upregulated genes, CPNE3 and OPHN1, and one downregulated gene, PPM1F, play an important role in PDL regeneration in humans when orthodontic force is applied. Examination of the gene expression between orthodontic force and no force stimulation in huMAN premolar PDL