Periostin-like-factor-induced bone formation within orthopedic maxillary expansion.

Objective: To examine whether periostin-like factor (PLF) stimulation of the expanded palatal suture would accelerate mineral formation of bone.
Materials and Methods: Expanded palates of 6-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were maintained in an organ culture system, and tissue was either unstimulated or stimulated with PLF or BMP-7 for 8 days. Bone mineral formation was assessed by Raman microspectroscopy analysis and histological examination.
Results: Raman microspectroscopy analysis demonstrated that unstimulated palates maintained their bone mineral concentration within the palatal suture over 8 days (%increase = 11.29 ± 2.34). In comparison, palates exposed to either PLF (%increase = 29.33 ± 1.61, p = 0.012) or BMP-7 (% increase = 25.49 ± 1.09, p = 0.016) formed significantly more bone at the osteogenic fronts of the palatal suture compared with unstimulated samples at day 8. Alkaline phosphatase activity along the bone edges was markedly greater in the PLF and BMP-7 groups compared with that in unstimulated groups at day 0 and day 8. The levels of osteocalcin proteins in the palatal suture tissues of the PLF and BMP-7 groups were significantly higher than those in the unstimulated group.
Conclusion: PLF can increase bone mineral formation within the expanded palatal suture.
(© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)