[Effects of enamel matrix proteins on the proliferation of human gingival epithelial cells in vitro].

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of enamel matrix proteins (EMPs) on the proliferation of human gingival epithelial cells in vitro.

Methods: EMPs were extracted from pig tooth germ by acetic acid. The gingival tissues cut off during gingivectomy were separated into two parts through Dispase II digestion and the epithelium part was cultured to acquire the gingival epithelial cells. The first passage epithelial cells were inoculated into 96-well plate, 22500 cells per well, and exposed to different concentrations of EMPs (50, 100, 200 microg/ml respectively). The control was epithelial cells cultured in the same medium except without EMPs. The proliferation rates were carried out over a 5-day period and assessed by an MTT assay and the data were analysed by one-way variance.

Results: It was shown that gingival epithelial cells well attached and spread on EMPs-coated substrata. There were no significant differences between the control group and various concentrations of EMPs groups at the initial stage, however, EMPs at a concentration of 200 microg/ml significantly inhibited gingival epithelial cells proliferation from day 3 over the experiment.

Conclusions: The proliferation of gingival epithelial cells was significantly inhibited by EMPs in a dose- and time-dependent manner, which provides some evidence for the mechanism of EMPs in promoting the periodontal tissue regeneration.