A simple cell motility assay demonstrates differential motility of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts, gingival fibroblasts, and pre-osteoblasts

Abstract

During periodontal regeneration, multiple cell types can invade the wound site, thereby leading to repair. Cell motility requires interactions mediated by integrin receptors for the extracellular matrix (ECM), which might be useful in guiding specific cell populations into the periodontal defect. Our data demonstrate that fibroblasts exhibit differential motility when grown on ECM proteins. Specifically, gingival fibroblasts are twice as motile as periodontal ligament fibroblasts, whereas osteoblasts are essentially non-motile. Collagens promote the greatest motility of gingival fibroblasts in the following order: collagen III>collagen V>collagen I. Differences in motility do not correlate with cell proliferation or integrin expression. Osteoblasts display greater attachment to collagens than does either fibroblast population, but lower motility. Gingival fibroblast motility on collagen I is generally mediated by alpha2 integrins, whereas motility on collagen III involves alpha1 integrins. Other integrins (alpha10 or alpha11) may also contribute to gingival fibroblast motility. Thus, ECM proteins do indeed differentially promote the cell motility of periodontal cells. Because of their greater motility, gingival fibroblasts have more of a potential to invade periodontal wound sites and to contribute to regeneration. This finding may explain the formation of disorganized connective tissue masses rather than the occurrence of the true regeneration of the periodontium.

A Role for α11β1 Integrin in the Human Periodontal Ligament

“…It has been suggested that α1β1 and α2β1 integrins are both functional in PDL cell interactions with collagen I, and also that an additional collagen receptor may be functional (Lallier et al, 2007). In agreement with this suggestion, analysis of our antibody data showed that antibodies to α1 and α2 integrins could only partially block collagen gel contraction.…”

“…Integrins on human PDL cells have been analyzed previously (Palaiologou et al, 2001;van der Pauw et al, 2002;Takemura et al, 2006;Lallier et al, 2007). One study used antibodies to the collagen-binding integrins α1β1 and α2β1 (Lallier et al, 2007) to investigate integrin-dependent cell migration.…”

“…One study used antibodies to the collagen-binding integrins α1β1 and α2β1 (Lallier et al, 2007) to investigate integrin-dependent cell migration. However, to our knowledge, no study of α10β1 and α11β1 integrin proteins has hitherto been performed.…”

“…Attempts have been made to characterize which integrins are expressed in human PDL tissue (Palaiologou et al, 2001) and PDL cells (Lallier et al, 2007). The latter studies have been hampered by the lack of reagents for the detection of the α10 and α11 integrin chains.…”

U94 of human herpesvirus 6 inhibits in vitro angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis

“…5 C and D), showing a considerable impairment in scrape wound repair ability. To study the potential long term effect of U94/REP on the motility rate of ECs, we evaluated HUVECs' cell migration activity (18). HUVECs were treated with recombinant U94/REP (4 g/mL), and cell movement along the bottom of a tissue culture flask was recorded after 8 days.…”