The phenotypic modulation of fibroblasts and its application for periodontal therapy

• Project/Area Number: 11672084
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Periodontal dentistry
• Research Institution: KYUSHU UNIVERSITY
• Principal Investigator: ABE Tatsuya Faculty of Dental Science, KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, Research Instructor, 歯学研究院, 助手 (80271112)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): AIDA Yoshitomi Faculty of Dental Science, KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, Ass.Prof., 歯学研究院, 助教授 (10127954)
• Project Period (FY): 1999 – 2000
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2000)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000); Fiscal Year 2000: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000); Fiscal Year 1999: ¥2,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,300,000)
• Keywords: fibroblasts / alkaline phosphatase / transforming growth factor-β / ascorbic acid / フィブロネクチン / コラーゲン / 細胞外マトリクス

Research Abstract

In this study, we developed a culture system in which fibroblasts express alkaline phosphatase (ALP), in order to understand the phenotypic modulation of fibroblasts and its application for the periodontal tissue-engineering therapy. Ascorbic acid (AsA) induced ALP activity and protein in human gingival fibroblasts in conventional monolayer culture. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) at high doses caused cell growth and inhibited the up-regulation by AsA of ALP activity, whereas the low doses promoted ALP induction without stimulating proliferation. Exposure of cells in monolayer to the medium supplemented with AsA, high TGF-β levels, and 10% serum resulted in the formation of multilayers. Transfer of these multilayers to the medium containing AsA and low TGF-β levels caused a marked up-regulation of ALP activity. These results demonstrate that a combination of AsA and TGF-β promoted multilayer formation and ALP induction in fibroblasts. Our results suggest a possible application of fibroblast phenotypic modulation for the periodontal tissue-engineering therapy.