title: Vitamin D-binding protein expression in healthy tooth and periodontium: an experimental study both in monkeys in vivo and in humans in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) is a highly expressed plasma protein with many important functions, including transport of vitamin D metabolites, sequestration of actin, control of bone metabolism and modulation of immune and inflammatory responses. Previous results of our study indicated an association between DBP and periodontitis. We hypothesized that periodontium might be another source of DBP in gingival crevicular fluid other than serum.
  
  
  METHODS
  DBP expression was examined in dental and periodontal tissues of monkeys by immunohistochemistry, and in primary cells isolated from human dental and periodontal tissues by reverse transcription plus the polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DBP was constitutively expressed and widely distributed in dental and periodontal tissues of primates. Their immunoreaction was evident in gingival epithelium, particularly in junctional epithelium, and in mineralizing areas of the dental pulp, periodontal ligament and bone marrow. Correspondingly, mRNA and protein expression were detected in primary human gingival epithelial cells, dental pulp cells and periodontal ligament cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DBP is highly expressed and widely distributed in dental and periodontal tissues, which may take an active part in local host defense and hard tissue metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Haidian District, Beijing, China.|Department of Periodontology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.|Key Laboratory of Oral Clinical Medicine, College of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Shinan District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology; D010519:Periodontium / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014809:Vitamin D-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014809:Vitamin D-Binding Protein
keywords: dental and periodontal tissue; human; immunochemistry; monkey; vitamin D-binding protein