Understanding the PDL cell / cementum interphase, their interplay under mechanical stress and periodontal remodeling to provide a basis for periodontal-cementum research

• Applicants: Professorin Dr. Sabine Neuss-Stein; Professor Dr. Michael Wolf
• Subject Area: Dentistry, Oral Surgery
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 490932300

Clinical evidence indicates that a continuous remodeling of the tooth root cementum and the periodontal apparatus in physiological and therapeutic conditions is required to maintain tissue strength, to prevent from damage, and to secure teeth anchorage. Within the tooth surrounding tissues, tooth root cementum and the periodontal ligament are the key regulators of a functional tissue homeostasis. While the root cementum supplies the anchorage of periodontal ligament fibers to the tooth root, the periodontal ligament itself is the key regulator of tissue resorption, remodeling process, and mechanical signal transmission. Thus, a balanced crosstalk of both tissues is mandatory for maintaining a homeostasis of this complex system. There is recent knowledge that different structures and cell types of the periodontium show distinct and individual respond to mechanical stress. Human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (hPDLF) and stem cells have already been investigated in multiple works concerning secretion of cytokines, growth factors in terms of tissue remodeling and regeneration. Recently, cementoblasts are of central importance for PDL connection and shift into the focus of science. Thus, the individual role of different cell types involved in mechanical loading-induced periodontal remodeling needs to be identified and understood in order to gain a better understanding into the functional crosstalk of cementum and periodontal tissues. For this reason it is necessary to develop innovative research strategies. In the present project, we aim to close the gap between the lack of knowledge how cementum and periodontal is regulated and tissues interact with each other in order to ensure continuous remodeling providing sufficient tooth anchorage between periodontal ligament and tooth root cementum. The first step will be the establishment of the isolation and characterization of PDLSC and cementoblast cells from patients. Both cell types will be isolated from the same patient to generate stable, fluorescently labeled cell lines to trace cell fate in three-dimensional tissue engineered periodontal constructs. In the next step we aim to analyze specific characteristics of the PDLSC and cementoblasts and the interaction between these cells under physiological conditions as well as with mechanical loading induced remodeling addressing central regulatory factors for tissue remodeling. In the final step after gaining new knowledge from our activity kinase profile, we will validate in vitro key molecules involved in compression force in a way that we support periodontal cementum crosstalk to gain further insides of periodontal remodeling, signaling and regulation. The expected findings should, in addition to gaining a central knowledge of the periodontal cementum tissues and its crosstalk, also show perspectives regarding possible therapeutic aspects to regulate periodontal remodeling and to reduce root resorptions in orthodontic therapies.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Rogerio Bastos Craveiro