[Effects of enamel matrix protein on the growth of human periodontal ligament cells on root cementum surfaces].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of enamel matrix protein (EMP) on the attachment and proliferation of periodontal ligament cells (PDLC) on diseased cementum surfaces in vitro.


METHODS
Cementum chips were obtained from diseased roots exposed to periodontal pocket. Thirteen diseased root cementum chips were conditioned with EMP. Meanwhile, 13 diseased and 13 healthy cementum chips were treated with physiological saline as control. The growth and morphology of PDLC on the root surface were observed after 24 hours incubation by scanning electron microscope (SEM). PDLC attachment and proliferation were quantified using MTT assay at 16 or 72 hours.


RESULTS
The cells on EMP treated roots under SEM were growing robust like the cells on healthy roots. By contrast, the diseased cementum surface without conditioned with EMP was only partly covered with spindle-shaped cells, with filopodia appearing short and thin. MTT assay indicated that the number of adhered and proliferated cells on diseased cementum chips treated with EMP was significantly greater than that on diseased chips treated with saline (adhesion: 0.45 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.37 +/- 0.05, P < 0.05; proliferation: 0.71 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.55 +/- 0.08, P < 0.01), but less than that on healthy chips (adhesion: 0.45 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.67 +/- 0.08, P < 0.05; proliferation: 0.71 +/- 0.02 vs. 1.05 +/- 0.09, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
It was suggested that EMP could promote the growth of PDLC on the diseased root cementum surface.
Jia
Hui-mei
HM
Department of Periodontology, The First Outpatient Dental Clinic of Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100034, China.
Ouyang
Xiang-ying
XY
Cao
Cai-fang
CF
D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003739:Dental Cementum / Q000502:physiology*; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000473:pathology*
D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins; C109069:enamel matrix proteins