Regeneration of bone and periodontal ligament induced by recombinant amelogenin after periodontitis.

Regeneration of mineralized tissues affected by chronic diseases comprises a major scientific and clinical challenge. Periodontitis, one such prevalent disease, involves destruction of the tooth-supporting tissues, alveolar bone, periodontal-ligament and cementum, often leading to tooth loss. In 1997, it became clear that, in addition to their function in enamel formation, the hydrophobic ectodermal enamel matrix proteins (EMPs) play a role in the regeneration of these periodontal tissues.

Localization, quantification, and characterization of tuftelin in soft tissues.

Tuftelin was initially found in the developing and mature extracellular enamel. Here we describe our novel discovery of tuftelin cellular distribution (protein and mRNA) in six soft tissues. The expression levels of tuftelin mRNA were significantly higher in mouse kidney and testis, in which oxygen levels are hovering closely to hypoxia under normal conditions.

Amelogenin expression in long bone and cartilage cells and in bone marrow progenitor cells.

The amelogenin protein is considered as the major molecular marker of developing ectodermal enamel. Recent data suggest other roles for amelogenin beyond structural regulation of enamel mineral crystal growth. Here we describe our novel discovery of amelogenin expression in long bone cells, in cartilage cells, in cells of the epiphyseal growth plate, and in bone marrow stromal cells.

Amelogenin, a major structural protein in mineralizing enamel, is also expressed in soft tissues: brain and cells of the hematopoietic system.

The amelogenin protein is considered as the major molecular marker of developing and mineralizing ectodermal enamel. It regulates the shape, size, and direction of growth of the enamel mineral crystallite. Recent data suggest other roles for amelogenin beyond regulation of enamel mineral crystal growth.

High yield of biologically active recombinant human amelogenin using the baculovirus expression system.

The amelogenins are secreted by the ameloblast cells of developing teeth; they constitute about 90% of the enamel matrix proteins and play an important role in enamel biomineralization. Recent evidence suggests that amelogenin may also be involved in the regeneration of the periodontal tissues and that different isoforms may have cell-signalling effects. During enamel development and mineralization, the amelogenins are lost from the tissue due to sequential degradation by specific proteases, making isolation of substantial purified quantities of full-length amelogenin challenging.