Bone Abstracts

Purpose: To investigate the effect of enamel matrix derivative (Emdogain) on the attachment, growth behavior and the genetic effect of human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) cultured on zirconium disc surfaces.

Materials and methods: HGF cells were cultured on i) zirconium discs without enamel matrix derivative (EMD), ii) zirconium discs with EMD 25 μg/ml, and iii) zirconium discs with EMD 100 μg/ml. The cell proliferation activity was evaluated through a MTT assay at 4, 24, and 48 h and the cell morphology was examined by SEM. The mRNA expression of collagen type I, fibronectin, integrin-β1, laminin, osteopontin and TGFβ1 in HGF were evaluated by RT-PCR after 24 h culture.

Results: From MTT assay, HGF proliferation was a little higher in EMD 25 μg/ml group than control and EMD 100 μg/ml group. SEM images showed that HGF cells were more flattened on the test groups than control group after 4 h culture and more cellular attachment were observed on EMD 25 μg/ml group than control and EMD 100 μg/ml group after 24 h culture. After 48 h culture, More cellular attachment were similar in all groups. Cellular process in E MD 25 μg/ml group were thin and long. The result of RT-PCR suggest that the mRNA expression of type I collagen increased with dose dependent manner. Enamel matrix derivative decreased the mRNA expression of other protein associated with cellular attachment or nearly affected.

Conclusions: Through this short term culture of HGF on zirconium discs we conclude that enamel matrix derivative may affect the proliferation and attachment of HGF cells and the cell morphology. And enamel matrix derivative stimulates production of extracellular matrix collagen and osteopontin. But more investigation is required to determine appropriate concentration of enamel matrix derivative for utmost cell proliferation and attachment.