Periodontal regeneration using an anabolic peptide with two carriers in baboons

Various growth proteins have been used to encourage periodontal tissue regeneration. The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the periodontal regeneration achieved with the use of a synthetic anabolic peptide (AP) combined with either beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) or an absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) as the carrier.

Periodontal defects were created bilaterally adjacent to four mandibular teeth in five baboons. Plaque was allowed to accumulate around wire ligatures placed into the defects. After 2 months, the wire ligatures were removed, and a notch was placed at the base of the defect. The four teeth were randomly treated with one of the following treatments: 1) saline + ACS serving as the control, 2) AP + ACS, 3) saline + beta-TCP serving as another control, or 4) AP + beta-TCP. The baboons were sacrificed 5 months post-treatment, and histomorphometric analyses were performed under masked conditions.

At 5 months post-surgery, the mean length of new cementum for sites treated with AP + ACS, AP + beta-TCP, saline + ACS, saline + beta-TCP amounted to 3.32 +/- 1.7 mm, 3.86 +/- 1.0 mm, 2.87 +/- 1.3 mm, and 3.15 +/- 1.9 mm, respectively. The mean width of new cementum for the corresponding values was 52.5 +/- 14.7 microm, 54.5 +/- 24.2 microm, 37.4 +/- 12.7 microm, and 48.9 +/- 12.4 microm, respectively. The mean width of new periodontal ligament for corresponding values was 246 +/- 140 microm, 166 +/- 26 microm, 251 +/- 92 microm, and 240 +/- 91 microm. No statistically significant difference was observed for any of the parameters among groups in this pilot study.

Preclinical studies showed that AP has positive anabolic effects on bone cells. In this study, no adverse tissue reactions were observed in the AP-treated sites, including root resorption, ankylosis, or a foreign body reaction. The cementum length and width were greater in the sites treated with AP versus sites treated with a control; however, these differences were not significant in the small number of animals used. Further research is needed to define the potential of AP as a periodontal therapeutic agent.