ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Bone replacement graft (BRG) materials are often used to treat periodontal defects, to promote cellular invasion, and to encourage bone regrowth. Periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLF) incorporate these materials and form the basis of the renewed connection between the existing and newly formed alveolar bone and the tooth surface. A peptide (P-15) that mimics the putative cell-binding domain of collagen has been reported to promote dermal fibroblast attachment and proliferation. METHODS: PDLF were quantitatively examined for their ability to adhere to a variety of BRG materials fluorometrically. In addition, scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the changes in morphology exhibited by these cells as they attached and spread on several BRG materials. Finally, BRG materials containing the P-15 peptide were quantitatively examined for their ability to promote PDLF attachment and proliferation. RESULTS: Freeze-dried allograft bone supports greater PDLF attachment than does several xenograft and alloplastic anorganic bone replacement materials. An anorganic BRG material containing the P-15 peptide promoted more rapid cell attachment and spreading than a similar anorganic BRG material lacking this peptide. Finally, none of the BRG materials examined promoted PDLF proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the addition of the P-15 peptide increases the rapidity of PDLF attachment to xenogeneic bone replacement materials. This increase in the rate of attachment may have clinical significance in the context of the dynamic regulation of cell attachment during periodontal regeneration. However, this peptide does not promote an increase in stable cell attachment or proliferation in vitro.
