摘要Objective To study the effect of baicalin on the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in cultured human periodontal ligament (HPDL) cells. Methods Small interfering RNA (siRNA) eukaryotic expression vector targeted transforming growth factor βⅡ receptor (TGF-β RⅡ) was constructed and transfected into T cells. HPDL cells with T cells transfected with siRNA or not were placed in the culture medium that had been added with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and baicalin. The obtained solution was divided into six groups according to the components (group Ⅰ: HPDL cells+LPS+T cells transfected with siRNA1+baicalin;group Ⅱ: HPDL cells+LPS+T cells transfected with siRNA1; group Ⅲ: HPDL cells+LPS+T cells+baicalin; group Ⅳ: HPDL cells+LPS+T cells; group Ⅴ: HPDL cells+baicalin; group Ⅵ: HPDL cells) and was cultured for 48 hours. RT-PCR was used to observe the effect of baicalin on the expression of OPG-RANKL in HPDL cells. Results The ratio of RANKL/OPG in group Ⅰ was lower than that in group Ⅱ (P<0.01) and higher than that in group Ⅲ (P<0.01); The ratio of RANKL/OPG in gronp Ⅲ was lower than that in group Ⅳ (P<0.01); the ratio of RANKL/ OPG in group Ⅳ was higher than that in group Ⅵ (P<0.01); the ratio of RANKL/OPG in group Ⅴ was lower than TGF-β signaling transduction plays an important role in the effect of baicalin on the RANKL/OPG ratio in HPDL cells.