GDFs promote tenogenic characteristics on human periodontal ligament-derived cells in culture at late passages. (October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xia, Dengsheng; Sumita, Yoshinori; Liu, Younan; Tai, Yunlin; Wang, Jinsong; Uehara, Masataka; Agata, Hideki; Kagami, Hideaki; Fan, Zhipeng; Asahina, Izumi; Wang, Songlin; Tran, Simon D.
• Is Part Of: Growth factors. Volume 31:Number 5(2013:Oct.)
• Page Start: 165
• Page End: 173
• Publication Date: 2013-10
• Subjects: Growth factors -- Periodicals; Physiology -- Periodicals; 611
• DOI: 10.3109/08977194.2013.830611
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0897-7194

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Tendon/ligament injures are leading disabilities worldwide. The periodontal ligament (PDL) connects teeth to bone, and is comparable to a tendon/ligament-to-bone insertion. PDL-derived cells (PDLCs) express both osteo/cementogenesis and teno/ligamentogenesis genes. However, an efficient method to induce a tenogenic differentiation of PDLCs has not been thoroughly examined. Therefore, this study tested if growth/differentiation factors (GDFs) enhanced tenogenic characteristics of human PDLCs, as a potential cell source for tendon/ligament engineering. Results demonstrated recombinant GDF-5/GDF-7 inhibited alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of PDLCs from passage 3 to 6, while GDF-5 enhanced ALP in dental pulp-derived cells and mesenchymal stem cells. GDF-5 (particularly at 10 ng/ml concentration) induced high expression of both early (<italic>scleraxis</italic>) and mature (<italic>tenomodulin, aggrecan, collagen3</italic>) tenogenic genes in P4-6 PDLCs, while inhibiting expression of specific transcription-factors for osteogenic, chondrogenic and adipogenic differentiation. Exogenous GDFs might lead PDLCs being expanded in culture during several passages to highly useful cell source for tendon/ligament engineering.</p> </abstract>