Proliferative effect of growth factors TGF-beta1, PDGF-BB and rhBMP-2 on human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells.

The regeneration of periodontal tissues lost due to periodontal disease requires cell migration, differentiation and proliferation. Several procedures have been proposed to promote wound healing events such as the application of growth factors including PDGF-BB, TGF-beta1 and rhBMP-2. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mitogenic responses of human periodontal ligament cells and gingival fibroblasts to PDGF-BB, TGF-beta1 and rhBMP-2. Human periodontal ligament cells were isolated from the mid root of three maxillary third molars extracted from three adult patients with moderate periodontitis and gingival fibroblasts were obtained from two patients also affected by moderate periodontitis, who underwent periodontal surgery. Cells were grown in 24-well dishes. On day 2 of quiescence, new medium was added with PDGF-BB or TGF-beta1 or rhBMP-2 at the concentration of 10 ng/ml. To determine the effects of the test agents on cell proliferation, DNA synthesis was estimated by measuring [3H] thymidine incorporation. After 48h of incubation the cells were processed and subject to scintillation counting. Counts per minute (cpm/ well) were determined for each sample. The results of this study demonstrated that PDGF-BB acts like a strong mitogenic agent for human periodontal ligament cells and gingival fibroblasts, TGF-beta1 mostly supports the proliferation of these cells and rhBMP-2 had an opposite effect on cell mitosis.