We studied the mRNA expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of NF-kappa B ligand (RANKL), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloprotease (TIMP)-1 and -2, and matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-1 and -2 by human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells under intermittent tensile stress using a Flexercell Strain Unit. Analysis by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction showed that mechanical force upregulated OPG mRNA. We also demonstrated that the protein concentration of OPG in conditioned medium increased upon loading with tensile stress, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. TIMP-1 and -2 mRNA levels also increased, whereas levels of RANKL, MMP-1, and MMP-2 mRNA were barely affected. We further examined the effect of loading with tensile stress and addition of Salmonella abortus equi lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the mRNA expression of PDL cells. The amount of OPG mRNA induced by mechanical strain was found to decrease with the addition of LPS to cultures. The induction of OPG mRNA expression by stretching was inhibited in the presence of indomethacin or genistein, whereas TIMP-1 mRNA expression induced by stretching was inhibited by the addition of cycloheximide, suggesting that tensile stress regulates cyclooxygenase activities, tyrosine phosphorylation, and de novo protein synthesis in PDL cells through the induction of OPG and TIMP-1 mRNA expression. These results provide evidence that the mechanical stimulus of stretching is responsible for the observed regulation of bone resorption and tissue degradation in PDL tissue.