Expression of LIM mineralization protein-1 during mineralization of human periodontal ligament cells in vitro

AIM: To investigate the expression pattern of LIM mineralization protein-1 during mineralization of cultured human periodontal ligament cells.METHODS: Human periodontal ligament cells were differentiated via culturing in the presence of dexamethasone,asorbic acid and β-glycerophosphate for bone-like mineralized nodule formation,characterized by von Kossa staining and by immunocytochemistry of bone sialoprotein.Expression of LIM mineralization protein-1 and alkaline phosphatase was analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction on day 0,1,2,3,5,7,9,11,14,21 and 28.RESULTS: During the mineralization,LIM mineralization protein-1 and alkaline phosphatase were expressed at every time point,generally held at a statistically significantly higher level compared with the control.For LIM mineralization protein-1,1.4-fold increased on day 3 and 1.5-fold on day 14;for alkaline phosphatase,1.5-fold increased on day 14.CONCLUSION: LIM mineralization protein-1 is found to be involved in the mineralization of human periodontal ligament cells.LIM mineralization protein-1 may play a role in the differentiation and mineralization of human periodontal ligament cells.