Effects of Fibrillin Application on Periodontal Ligament Regeneration in Mouse Model of Tooth Replantation

Abstract

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is fibrous tissue that maintains the connective space between tooth root and alveolar bone while avoiding the root resorption and the ankylosis. Fibrillin is one of the components of the elastic system fibers which exist in PDL as oxytalan fibers, and it plays an important role in organizing PDL with collagen fibers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of applying fibrillin protein for PDL regeneration using a mouse tooth replantation model. The ratio of root resorption and ankylosis was not improved in a replanted tooth soaked in fibrillin/PBS solution as compared to being soaked in PBS only. Interestingly, replantation with fibrillin and propylene glycol alginate (fibrillin/PGA) induced less root resorption and ankylosis than were observed with teeth replanted with PGA only. The PDL space between tooth root and alveolar bone in the fibrillin/PGA was clearly wider than that with PGA only. This regenerated PDL with Azan staining showed the meshwork structures including rich fibers in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, immunohistochemical expression of periostin was strongly detected in the entire regenerated PDL in the fibrillin/PGA. These results suggest that fibrillin promotes the formation of fibrous connective tissue in a PDL replantation and might be a good candidate as regenerative material for the PDL.