Role of Lipid Mediators in P2X7 Signaling in Osteoblasts

....................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................... vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................ ix 1 Orthodontic Tooth Movement........................................................................................ 1 2 Bone cells ...................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Osteoblasts .............................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Osteoclasts .............................................................................................................. 4 2.3 Osteocytes ............................................................................................................... 5 3 Regulation of Bone Remodeling and Mechanotransduction ......................................... 6 4 Mechanotransduction and Orthodontic Tooth Movement ............................................. 7 5 P2 Receptors .................................................................................................................. 7 5.1 P2X7 Receptor ........................................................................................................ 9 5.1.1 P2X7 Receptor Signaling in Osteoblasts .................................................. 11 5.1.2 P2X7 signaling in osteoclasts ................................................................... 14 6 Lysophosphatidic Acid................................................................................................. 15 7 Prostaglandins .............................................................................................................. 16 8 Rationale, Hypothesis and Objectives of the Research ................................................ 18 MATERIALS AND METHODS ...................................................................................... 24 1 Materials and Solutions ................................................................................................ 24 2 Cell Culture .................................................................................................................. 24 3 RNA Isolation .............................................................................................................. 24 4 Real-Time RT-PCR Analyses ...................................................................................... 25