[Effects of transforming growth factor and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 on the proliferation and differentiation of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP2) on the proliferation and differentiation of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDLFs).


METHODS
To observe the individual, simultaneous and sequential effects of TGFbeta and rhBMP2 on the proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteocalcin (OC) synthesis and mineralized nodule formation of the cultured HPDLFs.


RESULTS
TGFbeta significantly stimulated the proliferation of HPDLFs but had no effects on ALP activity, OC synthesis and mineralized nodule formation. RhBMP2 had no remarkable effect on the proliferation of HPDLFs, whereas significantly stimulated the ALP activity, OC synthesis and mineralized nodule formation. Co-treatment with TGFbeta and rhBMP2 led to intermediate effects on cell proliferation and differentiation. Pre-treatment with TGFbeta did not influence the subsequent rhBMP2 action on HPDLFs differentiation. Pre-treatment with rhBMP2 and subsequent with TGFbeta had a remarkable stimulation on HPDLFs differentiation.


CONCLUSIONS
RhBMP2 can stimulate the expression of osteoblastic phenotype of HPDLFs. TGFbeta significantly stimulated the rhBMP2 effects on the differentiation of HPDLFs. TGFbeta and BMP2 may act at different stages to promote HPDLFs differentiation towards the osteoblast phenotype.
Department of Oral Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200011, China.
Xiao-hui
XH
Si
Zheng
Z
Liu