Figure 4
PDGF-BB responsive-fibroblasts are up-regulated by orthodontic force. (A) Protein expression of α-SMA, PDGF-BB, PDGFRβ was measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in Control group and at day 7 and day 14 of OTM. The boxed regions are shown at a higher magnification in their corresponding right figures. P pressure area, T tension area. (B) The semi-quantitative analysis for IHC. (C) Cell morphology of normal PDL fibroblasts and orthodontic force-induced PDL fibroblasts. (D) Identification of PDL fibroblasts by flow cytometry. Identification of cell surface markers CD11b, CD45, CD29 and CD90. (E) Percentage of PDGRRβhigh PDL fibroblasts in Control group and Force group. **p < 0.01, n = 6/group. (F) Representative immunofluorescence images stained of α-SMA (red), PDGFRβ (green), and DAPI (blue, nuclei) in normal PDL fibroblasts and orthodontic force-induced PDL fibroblasts. The arrows indicated low-expressed PDGFRβ PDL fibroblasts. Each column represents the mean value of triplicate experiments. ##p < 0.01 comparison between tension area and pressure area in each group, **p < 0.01 comparison with the tension area among three groups, n = 8/group.
