Interplay of human periodontal ligament cells and immune cells - age-dependent aspects of the cellular response to intermittent PTH

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Stefan Lossdörfer
• Subject Area: Dentistry, Oral Surgery
• Term: from 2008 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 58918792

This project addresses age-dependent aspects of the immune regulatory function of human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells with special attention directed to the role of an inflammatory microenvironment. Crucial immune regulatory components have been detected in PDL cells and attributed a certain importance in periodontitis. PDL cells have been identified as target cells for regenerative strategies, in part due to their anabolic response to an intermittent parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulation. The PTH effect on bone metabolism has been linked to T cells since those in turn sensitize stromal cells to PTH. The PDL cell response to intermittent PTH will be investigated in monocultures of PDL cells from donors of different age, macrophages, and T cells with HMGB1, RAGE, TLR-4, CD40, Wnt10b, OPG, and RANKL as target parameters. Coculture experiments will examine the influence of PDL cells on immune cell chemotaxis and differentiation under variable conditions. Immunocompromised and TLR-4 knockout mice will serve to analyze the physiological relevance. These experimental approaches will elucidate how PDL cells are influenced by immunologic processes or, vice versa, contribute to their regulation, and disclose the role of immune cells for the mediation of the PTH effect on bone remodeling and, conversely, clarify whether immunologic processes can be modified by PTH.

• DFG Programme: Clinical Research Units
• Subproject of: KFO 208: Aetiology and Sequelae of Periodontal Diseases - Genetic, Cell Biological and Biomechanical Aspects
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Andreas Jäger