Responses of periodontal ligament stem cells on various titanium surfaces

Objective: Periodontal ligament has been reported to have adult stem cells (PDLSCs) which are responsible to regenerate the alveolar bone tissue after tooth is removed from its socket. Also PDLSCs may be the stem cells responsible for the osseointegration of titanium implants after installing the implant immediately in the fresh extracted socket. Here we tested cellular responses of PDLSCs on the various titanium surfaces to verify this notion. Materials and methods: Titanium disc were prepared for the different surface textures; smooth machined, blasted with 75 and 125 mu m Al2O3 particles, and anodized. PDLSCs were cultured on these titanium discs and tested their proliferation and gene expressions of osteocalcin, osteopontin, type I collagen, and GAPDH. Results: Proliferation of PDLSCs was higher on the rough surface blasted with 75 mu m Al2O3 particles. Osteocalcin expression was increased on the Al2O3 particle treated-surface regardless of its particle size. Type I collagen expression was generally decreased with time in 6 days culture. Conclusions: In this experiment, it was shown that cultured PDLSCs proliferate in higher rate on the rough surface especially at the 75 mu m Al2O3 particle treated surface than other surfaces. Also, osteocalcin was highly expressed on the rough surfaces treated with 75 mu m and 125 mu m Al2O3 particles.