Nitric oxide modulates osteoblastic differentiation with heme oxygenase-1 via the mitogen activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-kappaB pathways in human periodontal ligament cells.

Nitric oxide (NO) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) play important roles in the regulation of stem cell proliferation and differentiation. However, it has not been examined whether human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells can differentiate into osteoblast-like cells by NO activity mediated via HO-1. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of NO on proliferation and differentiation in human PDL cells, and to identify the underlying mechanism of its actions.