Differential gene expression and protein-protein interaction networks of human periodontal ligament stromal cells under mechanical tension

Klara Janjić; Michael Nemec; Johanna Louisa Maaser; Benedikt Sagl; Erwin Jonke; Oleh Andrukhov

doi:10.1016/j.ejcb.2023.151319

Differential gene expression and protein-protein interaction networks of human periodontal ligament stromal cells under mechanical tension

Eur J Cell Biol. 2023 Jun;102(2):151319. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2023.151319. Epub 2023 Apr 26.

Authors

Klara Janjić¹, Michael Nemec², Johanna Louisa Maaser³, Benedikt Sagl³, Erwin Jonke², Oleh Andrukhov⁴

Affiliations

¹ Competence Center Periodontal Research, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, Sensengasse 2a, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Center of Clinical Research, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, Sensengasse 2a, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
² Clinical Division of Orthodontics, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, Sensengasse 2a, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
³ Center of Clinical Research, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, Sensengasse 2a, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
⁴ Competence Center Periodontal Research, University Clinic of Dentistry, Medical University of Vienna, Sensengasse 2a, 1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: oleh.andrukhov@meduniwien.ac.at.

PMID: 37119575
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2023.151319

Abstract

Orthodontic treatment is based on complex strategies and takes up to years until a desired therapeutic outcome is accomplished, implying long periods of high costs and discomfort for the patient. Choosing the optimal settings for force intensities in the initial phase of orthodontic tooth movement is the key to successful orthodontic treatment. It is known that orthodontic tooth movement is mainly mediated by tensile and compressive forces that are communicated to the alveolar bone via the periodontal ligament. While the revelation of the complex molecular network was already approached by transcriptomic analysis of compressed periodontal ligament cells, the entity of molecular key players activated by tensile forces remains elusive. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of mechanical tensile forces on the gene expression profile of human primary periodontal ligament stromal cells, mimicking the initial phase of orthodontic tooth movement. A transcriptomic analysis of tension-treated and untreated periodontal ligament stromal cells yielded 543 upregulated and 793 downregulated differentially expressed genes. Finally, six highly significant genes were found in the transcriptome that are related to biological processes with relevance to orthodontic tooth movement, including apelin, fibroblast growth factor receptor 2, noggin, sulfatase 1, secreted frizzled-related protein 4 and stanniocalcin 1. Additionally, differences of gene expression profiles between individual cell donors showed a high effect size. Closer understanding of the roles of the identified candidates in the initial phase of orthodontic tooth movement could help to clarify the underlying mechanisms, which will be essential for the development of personalized treatment strategies in orthodontics.

Keywords: Dentistry; Mechanical strain; Molecular network; Orthodontic tooth movement; Transcriptomics.

MeSH terms

Humans
Periodontal Ligament* / metabolism
Protein Interaction Maps*
Stress, Mechanical
Tooth Movement Techniques
Transcriptome