Objective To study the influence of transfection with human transforming growth factor-β1（hTGF-β1） gene on the osteogenic potential and differentiation of the cultured human gingival fibroblast（GF）. Methods Enzyme kinetics method was used to measure the effects of the transfection on the alkaline phosphatase（ALP） activity. Immunohistochemistry stain and image analysis were applied to evaluate the alteration of the content of osteopontin （OPN）, bone sialoprotein（BSP）, osteonectin（ON）, osteocalcin（OC） in the GF with transfection. Mineralization nodules formation in vitro was also used. Results The ALP activity of the GF after transfection was higher than the GF without transfection significantly（P0.05）. The content of OC in GF was not improved after transfection, was similar with that of PDLCs（P>0.05）. Under immunohistochemistry stain, the contents of OPN, ON, BSP expressed in GF with transfection were higher than those of GF without transfection（P0.05）. In the mineralized cultured medium, the nodules were observed in the GF with transfection and PDLCs after 21 days and 24 days alternatively. After von Kossa stain, purple mineralization nodules were observed. Conclusion The GF transfected with pcDNA3-hTGF-β1 could express some osteogenic characters, though these characters are restricted.
