title: FGF-2 induces the proliferation of human periodontal ligament cells and modulates their osteoblastic phenotype by affecting Runx2 expression in the presence and absence of osteogenic inducers.
abstract: The exact phenotype of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) remains a controversial area. Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF‑2) exhibits various functions and its effect on hPDLCs is also controversial. Therefore, the present study examined the effect of FGF‑2 on the growth and osteoblastic phenotype of hPDLCs with or without osteogenic inducers (dexamethasone and β‑glycerophosphate). FGF‑2 was added to defined growth culture medium and osteogenic inductive culture medium. Cell proliferation, osteogenic differentiation and mineralization were measured. The selected differentiation markers, Runx2, collagen type Ⅰ, α1 (Col1a1), osteocalcin (OCN) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), were investigated by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR). Runx2 and OCN protein expression was measured by western blotting. FGF‑2 significantly increased the proliferation of hPDLCs, but did not affect alkaline phosphatase activity. RT‑qPCR analysis revealed enhanced mRNA expression of Runx2, OCN and EGFR, but suppressed Col1a1 gene expression in the absence of osteogenic inducers, whereas all these gene levels had no clear trend in their presence. The Runx2 protein expression was clearly increased, but the OCN protein level showed no evident trend. The mineralization assay demonstrated that FGF‑2 inhibited mineralized matrix deposition with osteogenic inducers. These results suggested that FGF‑2 induces the growth of immature hPDLCs, which is a competitive inhibitor of epithelial downgrowth, and suppresses their differentiation into mineralized tissue by affecting Runx2 expression. Therefore, this may lead to the acceleration of periodontal regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat‑sen University and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510055, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shaofeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat‑sen University and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510055, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiangya
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat‑sen University and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510055, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat‑sen University and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510055, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Junqi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat‑sen University and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510055, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yihua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000235:genetics*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000235:genetics; D010012:Osteogenesis; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D015675:Osteocalcin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase