Abstract
Extracellular matrixes are known to control cellular functions such as differentiation and proliferation. The epithelial rests of Malassez (ERM) are the only odontogenic epithelium which remain inside the periodontal membrane after completion of the dental roots. In the present study, the effects of four extracellular matrixes, fibronectin (FN), laminin (LN), osteopontin (OP) and collagen type I (Col I ), on adhesion and proliferation of ERM cells as well as on expression and tyrosine phosphorylation, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), paxillin and L1, were investigated. When ERM cells were incubated with each extracellular matrix, FN and Col I significantly facilitated adhesion, while LN and OP suppressed adhesion and proliferation. Although no marked changes were seen in the expression of FAK, paxillin and L1, changes in the level of tyrosine phosphorylation were seen. At 60 minutes after incubation, OP and Col I facilitated tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin, and at 3,7 and 14 days after incubation, there were changes in tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK. In addition, at 14 days after incubation, tyrosine phosphorylation of L1 was confirmed. These findings suggest that extracellular matrixes influence adhesion and proliferation of ERM cells and tyrosine phosphorylation of the abovementioned proteins.
