Occlusal trauma is caused by excessive occlusal forces and is associated with alveolar bone loss. In the periodontal ligament (PDL), which primarily receives the occlusal force, there is increased prostaglandin E (PGE2) synthesis in response to mechanical stress, and many studies have shown that PGE2 is involved in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. Recently, two isozymes of cyclooxygenase, COX-1 and COX-2, which are key enzymes in prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis, were identified and COX-2 was induced following the activation of cells by a variety of proinflammatory agents. However, the biosynthetic pathway of mechanical stress-dependent PGE2 from PDL cells has not been well understood. When cyclic tension force was applied to human PDL cells (18% increase in surface area), PGE2 release to the culture medium increased in a time-dependent manner. As analyzed by semi-quantitative PCR, COX-2 mRNAs, while hardly detectable in controls, increased dramatically on day 3 and 5 in response to tension force. In contrast, COX-1 mRNAs detected in controls were not affected by tension force. By immunocytochemical staining, COX-2 protein was significantly increased by tension force around the unstained cell nucleus in a time-dependent manner. When NS-398, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, was added to the medium, PGE2 synthesis increased by tension force was completely inhibited. These results indicate that tension force induces COX-2 in human PDL cells and that this induction is responsible for the augmentation of PGE2 production stimulated by tension force. Since selective COX-2 inhibitors have less adverse effects compared with those of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, they may be of therapeutic benefit for treatment of periodontal disease accompanying traumatic occlusion.