The effect of calcitriol on high mobility group box 1 expression in periodontal ligament cells during orthodontic tooth movement in rats

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a late inflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in periodontal tissue remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement. Calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 [1 alpha,25 (OH)(2)D-3]) is a systemic calcium-regulating hormone shown to downregulate expression of multiple proinflammatory cytokines in human periodontal ligament cells in response to orthodontic force. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 1 alpha,25(OH)(2)D-3 on the expression of HMGB1 in periodontal ligament (PDL) cells during orthodontic tooth movement. Seven-week-old male Wistar rats were used for experimentation. Tooth movement was assessed using a nickel-titanium coil spring to apply mechanical loading to the tooth for 5 days. This was followed by administration of either 1 alpha,25(OH)(2)D-3 or normal saline by gavage every other day for up to 28 days. Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-6 and HMGB1. After discontinuation of orthodontic force, expression of the early inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-alpha were time-dependently reduced in the 1 alpha,25(OH)(2)D-3 group compared with the control group at each time point. Similarly, expression of HMGB1 was decreased over time in both the 1 alpha,25(OH)(2)D-3 and normal saline groups, and 1 alpha,25(OH)(2)D-3 administration enhanced this decline. These findings indicate that administration of 1 alpha,25(OH)(2)D-3 might provide a favorable microenvironment for orthodontic tooth movement by downregulating expression of HMGB1 in PDL cells.