title: The effects of partial demineralization and fibronectin on migration and growth of gingival epithelial cells on cementum in vitro.
abstract: The capacity of mineralized cementum to support epithelial cell migration and growth and the effect that fibronectin and partial demineralization of cementum have on these processes were assessed in vitro. Dog gingival explants, 1 X 2 mm, were cultured on the cementum surfaces of pig root pieces in a defined medium consisting of DMEM and F12 (1V/1V), transferrin, insulin, epidermal growth factor, cortisone, selenium, and high-density lipoprotein. Sixty root pieces were divided into four equal groups according to the treatment: (1) untreated mineralized cementum; (2) treated with 5 micrograms of fibronectin; (3) partially demineralized in 18% EDTA for 30 min; and (4) both partially demineralized and fibronectin-treated as above. Epithelial cell migration and growth on each of the four differently treated cementum surfaces were assessed histomorphometrically by means of scanning electron microscopy. The defined culture medium supported the selective migration and growth of epithelial cells from the gingival explants onto the mineralized cementum. This was confirmed by the positive immunostaining of these cells with antikeratin antibodies. Partial demineralization of cementum inhibited epithelial migration and growth by 83% and 91%, respectively. Fibronectin treatment did not affect epithelial cell migration and growth on mineralized cementum, but it decreased the degree of epithelial cell migration and growth inhibition on partially demineralized cementum to 57% and 43%, respectively. The results indicate that: (i) mineralized cementum may consist of components that are recognized by gingival epithelial cells and support their migration and growth in vitro; (ii) these components can be removed by demineralization; and (iii) fibronectin partially restores epithelial cell migration and growth on partial demineralized cementum in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pitaru
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hekmati
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geiger
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Savion
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003739:Dental Cementum / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004285:Dogs; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins