Abstract
The goal of periodontal therapy is to regenerate the periodontium lost by the progression of periodontitis. In this regeneration process, migration, proliferation, and differentiation of periodontal ligament (PDL) cells are essential. The periodontal ligament tissues are composed of cells and their related extracellular matrix (ECM) components. We examined the effects of extracellular matrix components on biological activities of PDL cells. PDL cells were seeded on the plates coated with type I, III, IV collagen, fibronectin, or laminin. Proliferation of PDL cells was enhanced by fibronectin and laminin. Type I, III, IVcollagen did not enhance the proliferation of PDL cells. ALPase activity of PDL cells was enhanced by type I, III, IV collagen. And type I collagen was the most potent activator. Laminin inhibited the ALPase activity. The formation of calcified nodules by PDL cells was examined by the Alizarin staining methods. Type I collagen promoted the activity of calcified nodules by PDL cells.
These results suggest that laminin enhance the proliferation of undifferentiated PDL cells and remain them at undifferentiated stage and type I collagen support PDL cells to differentiate into osteoblasts or ceomentoblasts at later stage of regeneration. It seems that ECM controls the biological activities of PDL cells and plays an important role in periodontal tissue regeneration.
