No abstract

No abstract

Alpha-modified minimum essential medium (MEM) has been found to cross-link a 1% gellan gum solution, resulting in the formation of a selfsupporting hydrogel in 1:1 and 5:1 ratios of polysaccharide: MEM. Rheological data from temperature sweeps confirm that in addition to orders of magnitude differences in G 0 between 1% gellan and 1% gellan with MEM, there is also a 20 C increase in the temperature at which the onset of gelation takes place when MEM is present. Frequency sweeps confirm the formation of a true gel; mechanical spectra for mixtures of gellan and MEM clearly demonstrate G 0 to be independent of frequency. It is possible to immobilize cells within a threedimensional (3D) gellan matrix that remain viable for up to 21 days in culture by adding a suspension of rat bone marrow cells (rBMC) in MEM to 1% gellan solution. This extremely simple approach to cell immobilization within 3D constructs, made possible by the fact that gellan solutions cross-link in the presence of millimolar concentrations of cations, poses a very low risk to a cell population immobilized within a gellan matrix and thus indicates the potential of gellan for use as a tissue engineering scaffold.

Difficulties associated with achieving predictable periodontal regeneration, means that novel techniques need to be developed in order to regenerate the extensive soft and hard tissue destruction that results from periodontitis. Localized delivery of growth factors to the periodontium is an emerging and versatile therapeutic approach, with the potential to become a powerful tool in future regenerative periodontal therapy. Optimized delivery regimes and well-defined release kinetics appear to be logical prerequisites for safe and efficacious clinical application of growth factors and to avoid unwanted side effects and toxicity. While adequate concentrations of growth factor(s) need to be appropriately localized, delivery vehicles are also expected to possess properties such as protein protection, precision in controlled release, biocompatibility and biodegradability, self-regulated therapeutic activity, potential for multiple delivery, and good cell/tissue penetration. Here, current knowledge, recent advances, and future possibilities of growth factor delivery strategies are outlined for periodontal regeneration. First, the role of those growth factors that have been implicated in the periodontal healing/regeneration process, general requirements for their delivery, and the different material types available are described. A detailed discussion follows of current strategies for the selection of devices for localized growth factor delivery, with particular emphasis placed upon their advantages and disadvantages and future prospects for ongoing studies in reconstructing the tooth supporting apparatus.

No abstract

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is potentially involved in increasing metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Periodontal pathogens are well-known for their ability to induce intense immune responses and here we investigated whether they are involved in inducing EMT. Cultures of OSCC cell line (H400) were treated separately with heat-killed periodontal pathogens F. nucleatum, or P. gingivalis or E. coli LPS for 8 d. EMT-associated features were assayed using sq-PCR and PCR-arrays, for EMT-related markers, and ELISAs for TGF-β1, TNF-α, and EGF. The migratory ability of cells was investigated using scratch and transwell migration assays. E-cadherin and vimentin expression was assessed using immunofluorescence while Snail activation was detected with immunocytochemistry. In addition, the integrity of the cultured epithelial layer was investigated using transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). PCR data showed significant upregulation after 1, 5, and 8 d in transcription of mesenchymal markers and downregulation of epithelial ones compared with unstimulated controls, which were confirmed by immunofluorescence. Periodontal pathogens also caused a significant increase in level of all cytokines investigated which could be involved in EMT-induction and Snail activation. Exposure of cells to the bacteria increased migration and the rate of wound closure. Downregulation of epithelial markers also resulted in a significant decrease in impedance resistance of cell monolayers to passage of electrical current. These results suggested that EMT was likely induced in OSCC cells in response to stimulation by periodontal pathogens.

No abstract

Stem-cell-based therapies provide a biological basis for the regeneration of mineralised tissues. Stem cells isolated from adipose tissue (ADSCs), bone marrow (BMSCs) and dental pulp (DPSCs) have the capacity to form mineralised tissue. However, studies comparing the capacity of ADSCs with BMSCs and DPSCs for mineralised tissue engineering are lacking, and their ability to regenerate dental tissues has not been fully explored. Characterisation of the cells using fluorescence-activated cell sorting and semi-quantitative reverse transcription PCR for MSC markers indicated that they were immunophenotypically similar. Alizarin red (AR) staining and micro-computed tomography (µCT) analyses demonstrated that the osteogenic potential of DPSCs was significantly greater than that of BMSCs and ADSCs. Scanning electron microscopy and AR staining showed that the pattern of mineralisation in DPSC cultures differed from ADSCs and BMSCs, with DPSC cultures lacking defined mineralised nodules and instead forming a diffuse layer of low-density mineral. Dentine matrix components (DMCs) were used to promote dentinogenic differentiation. Their addition to cultures resulted in increased amounts of mineral deposited in all three cultures and significantly increased the density of mineral deposited in BMSC cultures, as determined by µCT analysis. Addition of DMCs also increased the relative gene expression levels of the dentinogenic markers dentine sialophosphoprotein and dentine matrix protein 1 in ADSC and BMSC cultures. In conclusion, DPSCs show the greatest potential to produce a comparatively high volume of mineralised matrix; however, both dentinogenesis and mineral volume was enhanced in ADSC and BMSC cultures by DMCs, suggesting that these cells show promise for regenerative dental therapies.