Differences between Enamel Matrix Derivative and a New Synthetic Oligopeptide on the Effects of Human Periodontal Ligament Cells

Abstract

 Purpose: Enamel matrix derivative (EMD) extracted from the tooth germ of young pigs has been clinically used as a convenient material for periodontal tissue regeneration. However, EMD might be rejected by patients, because it is animal-derived material and may carry unknown pathogenic organisms. Development of a new synthetic oligopeptide with the same function as EMD is desirable. The present study examined the differences between enamel matrix derivative and a new synthetic oligopeptide on the effects of human periodontal ligament cells that play an important role in periodontal tissue.
 Methods: Human periodontal ligament cells were obtained from healthy adult human mandibular third molars. The effects of the new synthetic oligopeptide on the human periodontal ligament cells were examined by hard tissue differentiation and screening of the gene expression for TGF-beta. In each group incubated for 2 or 3 weeks, the gene expression of human periodontal ligament cells and the production of osetocalcin in culture supernatants stimulated with 10 μg/ml of EMD or 100 ng/ml of the oligopeptide were measured.
 Results: Significant differences were found by real-time PCR array after 3 weeks of incubation, and platelet-derived growth factor beta polypeptide increased. The production of osteocalcin did not show any significant difference between the EMD stimulated group and the oligopeptide stimulated group after 2 weeks, but production in the EMD stimulated group was significantly higher than in the oligopeptide stimulated group after 3 weeks.
 Conclusion: These results suggest that the oligopeptide produced from EMD's previous study promoted hard tissue differentiation at the same level as EMD in the process of periodontal tissue regeneration.