[Immunohistochemical localization and expression of fibromodulin in the periodontium].
OBJECTIVE
To study the distribution and expression of fibromodulin in normal periodontium, so as to understand its role in periodontal tissue homeostasis.


METHODS
Five normal male Lewis rats were killed and their bilateral mandibular first molars with surrounding alveolar bones and gingival tissues were taken out. Human gingival fibroblasts, fibroblasts of periodontal ligament, and osteoblasts were cultured. Immunohistochemistry with anti-fibromodulin, anti-decorin, anti-biglycan, anti-type I collagen, and anti-type III collagen antibodies and RT-PCR were used to detect the tissue distribution and cellular localization of fibromodulin and related proteoglycans, decorin and biglycan, and type I and type III collagens.


RESULTS
Fibromodulin was strongly expressed in the suprabasal gingival epithelium, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, gingival and periodontal fibroblasts as well as their matrices. Strong expression was noted in the area close to oral gingival aspect and the interfaces of periodontal ligament-alveolar bone and periodontal-ligament-cementum. Decorin was strongly expressed in the area close to the gingival sulcus in gingival tissue. Biglycan was stained evidently in gingival epithelium. Fibromodulin, decorin and biglycan mRNAs were strongly expressed in osteoblasts. mRNAs of type I and type III collagens were strongly expressed in gingival fibroblasts.


CONCLUSIONS
Fibromodulin may interact with other small proteoglycans to regulate the network formation of periodontal collagen fibers, and may be involved in mineralization of the alveolar bone and cementum.
Qian
Hong
H
College & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China.
Fan
Ming-wen
MW
Xiao
Y
Y
Bartold
P M
PM
D000818:Animals; D058578:Biglycan; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D058575:Decorin; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D000071235:Fibromodulin; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D010519:Periodontium / Q000737:chemistry*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
C546884:BGN protein, human; D058578:Biglycan; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C546878:DCN protein, human; D058575:Decorin; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; C000604330:FMOD protein, human; C000604334:Fmod protein, rat; D011509:Proteoglycans; D000071235:Fibromodulin; D003094:Collagen