Inverse dose- and time-dependent effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on the gene expression of collagen type I and matrix metalloproteinase-1 by periodontal ligament cells in culture.
BACKGROUND
Growth factors are known to play a major role in the regeneration of the periodontium. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a polypeptide growth factor considered to have a role in chemotaxis and mitogenesis of periodontal ligament cells (PLC). The aim of this study was to assess the dose-dependent effect of bFGF administration on the levels of gene expression of collagen type I (a1) (col I), collagen type III (col III), and collagenase-1 (MMP-1) in PLC.


METHODS
PLC were cultured in different concentrations of bFGF (0.1 to 10 ng of bFGF) for 14 and 21 days. At each time point, the gene expression of the examined molecules was assessed semi-quantitatively by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay.


RESULTS
The results indicated that bFGF exhibits an inverse time- and dose-dependent effect on the gene expression of col I and MMP-1: it simultaneously downregulates the gene expression of col I and upregulates the gene expression of MMP-1. On the other hand, bFGF had no dose-dependent effect on col III gene expression. The effect of bFGF on the expression of the three genes was modulated by the time of incubation with bFGF.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that bFGF is one of the important regulators involved in the active remodeling of col I in the periodontal ligament and possibly in other connective tissues.
Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. apalmon@cc.huji.ac.il
A
A
Palmon
H
H
Roos
J
J
Edel
B
B
Zax
N
N
Savion
A
A
Grosskop
S
S
Pitaru
D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D003094:Collagen; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1