FAK pathway regulates PGE₂ production in compressed periodontal ligament cells.

This study examined the role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) as a mechanoreceptor in human periodontal ligament (hPDL) cells. hPDL cells were obtained from premolars extracted for orthodontic purposes. Mechanical stress was applied in a compressive manner (2 g/cm(2)) for various time durations (0.5, 2, 6, 24, 48 hrs) with or without a knockdown treatment for FAK. Compressive stimulation increased the level of phosphorylated FAK and prostaglandin E(2) production. The FAK-knockdown cells showed significantly lower prostaglandin E(2) levels than the control cells. Furthermore, compressive stress up-regulated cyclo-oxygenase-2 mRNA, whereas there were no changes observed in the FAK-knockdown cells. These results suggest that FAK regulates the production of prostaglandin E(2) via the transcriptional regulation of COX-2 mRNA in compressive stimulated PDL cells. The FAK-integrin complex plays a role in mechanoreception and mechanotransduction in hPDL cells.