Periodontal ligament cells and gingival fibroblasts respond differently to attachment factors in vitro.

One of the initial events required for regeneration of periodontal tissues lost due to disease is the establishment of connective tissue attachment to root surfaces. Thus, considerable research efforts have focused on developing reliable procedures to gain new connective tissue attachment. Our studies focus on evaluating agents for their ability to promote cell attachment and spreading using an in vitro assay. For these studies human gingival fibroblasts (GF) and human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells, after exposure to fibronectin; 44 kilodalton bone phosphoprotein (44K BPP-osteopontin) or guanidine EDTA extracts of bone, cementum, or dentin, were compared as to degree of cell attachment and spreading. Fibronectin equally enhanced attachment and spreading PDL cells and GF. In contrast, 44K BPP, as well as guanidine EDTA extracts of bone and cementum, preferentially promoted attachment of GF when compared with attachment of PDL cells. For both PDL cells and GF the attached cells exhibited spreading. The guanidine EDTA extract of dentin did not promote attachment of either cell type. These results suggest that PDL cells and GF have different attachment properties which need to be considered for investigations directed at developing regenerative periodontal treatments.