Regenerating the periodontium: is there a magic formula?
OBJECTIVE
Left untreated, periodontal disease results in destruction of periodontal tissues including cementum, bone and the periodontal ligament, and subsequently, tooth loss. Increased research efforts focused on understanding periodontal disease at the cellular, molecular and clinical level have resulted in improved modalities for arresting disease progression; however, outcomes of existing procedures are not predictable and often disappointing. Critical to improving the predictability of regenerative therapies is targeting studies toward enhancing our understanding of the cellular and molecular events required to restore periodontal tissues.


METHODS
Toward this goal our laboratory has focused on defining cells, mechanisms and factors regulating development of periodontal tissues, using in vitro and in vivo rodent models.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from these studies have enabled us to identify attractive candidate factors/cells including: 1) products secreted by epithelial cells that act on mesenchymal cells (amelogenins): we observed that both follicle cells and cementoblasts are responsive to amelogenin-like molecules resulting in changes in the expression of genes associated with cell maturation; 2) morphogens (bone morphogenetic proteins, BMP): we report that follicle cells respond differently to BMPs vs. cementoblasts, depending on dose of and specific BMP used; 3) phosphates: existing data suggest that phosphates act as signaling molecules regulating the expression of genes associated with cementoblast maturation. Knowledge gained from these studies has provided insight as to the cells/factors required for designing improved regenerative therapies.
Foster
B L
BL
Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195, USA.
Somerman
M J
MJ
D053523:Amelogenin; D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000494:pharmacology; D025021:Cementogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D010519:Periodontium / Q000502:physiology*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*
D053523:Amelogenin; C507200:Amelx protein, mouse; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins; D010710:Phosphates; C109069:enamel matrix proteins