Role of ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 during early orthodontic tooth movement

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 in human gingivalcrevicular fluid (GCF) at different time-points following the application of an orthodontic force. Thirtytwohealthy patients (20 females, 12 males, mean age 13.8) who had undergone orthodontic treatmentand needed upper first premolar extractions were enrolled in this study. For each patient, one maxillarycanine was used as the test side and was subjected to a standardized orthodontic force while the contralateralcanine was used as a control and not subjected to any force. A GCF sample was taken on thecompression and test sides of the test tooth and on the control tooth at baseline, after 1, 4, 24 hoursand 7 and 21 days. Western blot analysis was performed to detect protein levels on controls and testteeth. Following the application of a force, the expression of ADAMTS4 increased significantly (p≤0.001)peaking at 4 hours in the tension side, while on the compression side it reached a peak, in a timedependentway, at 21 days (p≤0.001). ADAMTS5 levels peaked, on both tension and compression sides,at 1 hour following the application of force (p≤0.05), and on the compression side also at 24 hoursand 7 days. These results suggest that both ADAMTS4 and 5 are involved during the early stages oforthodontic tooth movement.