Objective: To study if Scleraxis, a basic helix-loop-helix type transcription factor, could be expressed in human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLC), bone marrow cells (hBMSC) and gingival fibroblasts (hGF), and to investigate if Scleraxis was involved in hPDLC differentiation.
Methods: hPDLC, hBMSC and hGF were cultured. Expression of Scleraxis in hPDLC from different passages and in hBMSC and hGF was analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Results: Scleraxis expression in hPDLC, hBMSC and hGF were significantly different (P < 0.05). The A values of Scleraxis/beta-actin in these kinds of cells were 0.877 +/- 0.024, 0.438 +/- 0.031, 0.313 +/- 0.083, respectively. The expression of Scleraxis was the highest in hPDLC and lowest in hGF. Scleraxis expression of hPDLC decreased with increase of passages in culture.
Conclusions: Scleraxis was expressed in hPDLC, hBMSC and hGF in vitro, and may play an important role in differentiation of hPDLC.