Premium
Monoclonal Antibodies Against Integrin Subunits α6 and β1 Inhibit Migration of Gingival Epithelium in Organ Culture
Author(s) -
Gräber HansGeorg,
Wilharm Jens,
Conrads Georg
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.1999.70.4.388
Subject(s) - junctional epithelium , integrin , fibronectin , laminin , extracellular matrix , epithelium , connective tissue , monoclonal antibody , regeneration (biology) , chemistry , immunohistochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody , basement membrane , pathology , biology , immunology , medicine , biochemistry , receptor
Background: The main problem in the posterior instrumental treatment of periodontitis is the re‐epithelization of the periodontal defects, leading to the formation of an unphysiological, long junctional epithelium inhibiting the regeneration of periodontal attachment. A precondition for the re‐epithelization is the interaction between epithelial cells and their extracellular matrix mediated by integrins. Integrins are cellular adhesion molecules (CAM), binding to different structures of the extracellular matrix, e.g., collagen, laminin, or fibronectin. Methods: Biopsy specimens of marginal gingiva, composed of epithelium and subepithelial connective tissue, were cultivated on microporous membranes in tissue culture plates. The culture medium was supplemented with monoclonal antibodies directed against human integrin subunits. The period of cultivation was 6 days and the medium was replaced daily. After cultivation, the tissue development was analyzed by histological and immunohistochemical methods. Results: We found that the combination of antibodies directed against the integrin subunits α6 and β1 inhibited the migration of epithelium completely in 9 out of 10 cultures, whereas control cultures containing none or only irrelevant antibodies demonstrated connective tissues completely covered by epithelium. Conclusions: Influencing the regeneration of periodontal tissue on a molecular basis by using antibodies directed against integrin subunits may be of future interest in postsurgical treatment of periodontal diseases. J Periodontol 1999;70:388‐393.