Background: Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and collagen type I are known to play a critical role in the process of bone remodeling. However, the relationship between mechanical strain and the expression of BMP-2, ALP, and COL-I in osteoblasts was still unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different magnitudes of mechanical strain on osteoblast morphology and on the expression of BMP-2, ALP, and COL-I.
Methods: Osteoblast-like cells were flexed at four deformation rates (0, 6%, 12%, and 18% elongation). The expression of BMP-2 mRNA, ALP, and COL-I in osteoblast-like cells were determined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The results were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS 13.0 statistical software.
Results: The cells changed to fusiform and grew in the direction of the applied strain after the mechanical strain was loaded. Expression level of the BMP-2, ALP, and COL-I increased magnitude-dependently with mechanical loading in the experimental groups, and the 12% elongation group had the highest expression (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Mechanical strain can induce morphological change and a magnitude-dependent increase in the expression of BMP-2, ALP, and COL-I mRNA in osteoblast-like cells, which might influence bone remodeling in orthodontic treatment.