SYNOPSIS
To understand the molecular basis mechanisms of β-TCP in accelerating of bone formation, β-TCP was implanted into bone defects of mandible in beagle dogs, and gene expression profiles were examined using GeneChip. Significant higher gene mRNA levels of fibronectin (FN) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) were observed in β-TCP implanted mandible when compared with the controls. These enhancements of gene expressions were successfully confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time PCR. FN involved in the early stages of osteogenesis and in mineralization processes. FN linked through integrin clustering to activate FAK and FAK is an important signaling molecule to lead the cell proliferation and activate the transcription of bone-specific genes. Thus, the stimulation of the FN and FAK gene expressions by β-TCP may be one of molecular mechanisms for accelerating bone formation.

Key words: β-TCP, dog mandible, bone, fibronectin, focal adhesion kinase