title: Enhancement by extracts of mineralized tissues of protein production by human gingival fibroblasts in vitro.
abstract: Non-confluent cell cultures were exposed to both guanidine and guanidine-EDTA extracts of cementum, dentine and alveolar bone, at concentrations from 2 to 50 micrograms/ml for 48 h. The cells were radioactively labelled during the last 24 h. Total protein production was measured via incorporation of radioactive proline; collagen production was estimated by digestion of the radioactive protein mixture with bacterial collagenase. All guanidine-EDTA extracts elicited statistically-significant increases in total protein production when compared to controls. At 50 micrograms/ml of extract, the increase in protein production was 340, 143 and 338 per cent for bone, cementum and dentine, respectively. Similar results were obtained for collagen production. Guanidine-EDTA extracts also stimulated an increase in the production of specific proteins, as ascertained by gel electrophoresis. In contrast, the guanidine extracts had no effect on either protein or collagen production. Thus the functions of gingival fibroblasts can be altered by proteins from associated mineralized tissues. Identification of such proteins and their biological functions would enhance knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate connective-tissue regeneration.
mesh_terms: D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003739:Dental Cementum / Q000378:metabolism*; D003804:Dentin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014020:Tissue Extracts; D003094:Collagen