Osteogenic and adipogenic induction potential of human periodontal cells.
BACKGROUND
Human periodontium contains different cell types that have various potential roles in hard and soft tissue regeneration. However, there is limited knowledge about how these diverse cell populations contribute to the regenerative process. In this study, we investigated the surface marker difference between different periodontal cells (alveolar osteoblasts [AOs], periodontal ligament fibroblasts [PDLFs], and gingival fibroblasts [GFs]) and their differentiation potential toward osteogenic and adipogenic phenotypes.


METHODS
Periodontal cells (AOs, PDLFs, and GFs) from 14 subjects were isolated. The surface antigen expression pattern of cells was analyzed by cell flow cytometry, and the molecular and histologic characterizations under osteogenic and adipogenic inductions were monitored by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunocytohistology.


RESULTS
The cell phenotypes of AOs were verified by the high expressions of CD29 and CD49a, whereas PDLFs showed distinctively low levels of CD63 and CD73. Under adipogenic induction, limited AOs formed cube-shaped adipose-like cells, whereas PDLFs formed spindle-shaped adipose-like cells. All three cell types expressed baseline osteo-related genes. AOs demonstrated the highest osteogenic ability followed by PDLFs and GFs.


CONCLUSIONS
Cells in alveolar bone and periodontal ligament contain osteogenic and adipogenic progenitors. These observations indicate a possible application for periodontium cells in hard or soft tissue regeneration.
Zhou
Yefang
Y
Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Hutmacher
Dietmar W
DW
Sae-Lim
Varawan
V
Zhou
Zhihong
Z
Woodruff
Maria
M
Lim
Tit Meng
TM
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D048430:Cell Shape; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000502:physiology; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology
D000954:Antigens, Surface