KFO 208:  Aetiology and Sequelae of Periodontal Diseases - Genetic, Cell Biological and Biomechanical Aspects

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: from 2008 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 58918792

Periodontitis is a complex multifactorial disease and the exact aetiopathogenetic mechanisms are still largely unknown. The projects of the Clinical Research Unit are thus devoted to the inflammatory, tissue-destructive and regenerative processes in the periodontium as well as the possible sequelae for general health in the context of in-vitro, animal and clinical studies. The major goal of the Clinical Research Unit is to improve the prevention, disease control and therapy of periodontitis through a better understanding of the causes and effects of periodontal diseases as well as of regenerative processes in the involved tissues.
The Clinical Research Unit embarks on an interdisciplinary research approach that comprises genetic, cell biological and biomechanical aspects. The identification of periodontitis-associated genetic polymorphisms as well as biomechanical and vascular factors that influence the periodontal situation should enable patients at risk to be recognised and therapy to be carried out at an earlier stage than has been possible until now.
New therapeutic approaches are expected as a result of identifying and characterising dendritic cell populations and the effects mediated by beta-defensin. By clarifying the significance of periodontal diseases for vascular pathology and especially the significance of vascular regeneration for the treatment of periodontitis, new forms of therapy may possibly result that, through a systemic approach, could both reduce the health risks for the entire patient and also improve the success of local treatment. Furthermore, a major focus is given to biomechanical aspects in the context of periodontal wound healing and possible consequences for regenerative treatment strategies. The investigation of the mechanisms whereby enamel matrix derivatives, insulin-like growth factors and parathyroid hormone mediate their effects at cellular and molecular levels will reveal their potential for application in regenerative periodontal therapy.

• DFG Programme: Clinical Research Units
• International Connection: Switzerland

Projects

• Antimicrobial peptides in gingival inflammation and periodontal healing (Applicant Dommisch, Henrik )
• Coordination project (Applicant Deschner, James )
• Development of mathematical models and efficient algorithms to simulate the loading conditions of the periodontium in dental biomechanics: clinical and experimental validation (Applicant Bourauel, Christoph )
• Development of mathematical models and efficient algorithms to simulate the loading conditions of the periodontium in dental biomechanics: clinical and experimental validation (Applicant Krause, Rolf )
• Effects of periodontal-pathogenic factors on oral neoplasia (Applicant Winter, Jochen )
• Functional characterization of the long antisense noncoding RNA CDKN2BAS (ANRIL) and elucidation of the specific role in the pathophysiology of periodontitis (Applicant Schäfer, Arne )
• Interplay of human periodontal ligament cells and immune cells - age-dependent aspects of the cellular response to intermittent PTH (Applicant Lossdörfer, Stefan )
• Oxidative stress and interactions with biomechanical loading on cell metabolism of periodontal tissues (Applicant Götz, Werner )
• Periodontal infections and stem cell mobilization in atherosclerosis (Applicant Werner, Nikos Sebastian )
• Promotion of junior scientists (Applicant Deschner, James )
• Role of macrophages/dendritic cells and NKT cell interaction in Th17 polarized chronic periodontitis (Applicant Allam, Jean-Pierre )
• The effect of adipokines and obesity on periodontal destruction and regeneration (Applicant Deschner, James )

• Spokespersons: Professor Dr. Sören Jepsen; Professor Dr. Andreas Jäger
• Leader: Professor Dr. James Deschner