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Osteopontin regulates dentin and alveolar bone development and mineralization
B L Foster1, M Ao2, C R Salmon3
1Division of Biosciences, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Bone
|January 10, 2018
Summary
Osteopontin (OPN) regulates dentin and bone formation and influences periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue properties. However, OPN does not control acellular cementum apposition, offering insights into soft tissue calcification therapies.
Area of Science:
- Periodontal Biology
- Biomineralization
- Proteomics
Background:
- The periodontal complex, including cementum, alveolar bone, and periodontal ligament (PDL), is crucial for tooth support.
- Progressive ankylosis (Ank-/-) mice exhibit reduced pyrophosphate (PPi), leading to rapid cementogenesis and excessive acellular cementum.
- Understanding factors regulating PDL borders and preventing ectopic calcification is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of osteopontin (OPN) in periodontal development and function.
- To identify factors involved in regulating cementum-PDL and bone-PDL interfaces.
- To explore OPN's involvement in the hypercementosis observed in Ank-/- mice.
Main Methods:
- Proteomic analysis of PDL tissue from Ank-/- mice.
- Histological and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analyses of wild-type (WT), Spp1-/-, and Ank-/-; Spp1-/- mice.
- Quantitative PCR to assess gene expression in periodontal tissues.
Main Results:
- Osteopontin (Spp1/OPN) was identified as an elevated factor in Ank-/- mouse PDL.
- Spp1-/- mice showed increased dentin and alveolar bone volume and density, with decreased pulp and PDL volumes.
- Acellular cementum growth was not altered in Spp1-/- mice, and double knockout mice (Ank-/-; Spp1-/-) did not show increased hypercementosis compared to Ank-/- mice.
Conclusions:
- OPN plays a non-redundant role in regulating dentin and bone formation and mineralization.
- OPN influences the tissue properties of the PDL and pulp.
- OPN does not control acellular cementum apposition, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for soft tissue calcification.
Keywords:
Bone biologyDental cementumExtracellular matrixMineralizationPeriodontal tissuesTooth developmentMore Related Videos
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