Advanced glycation of type I collagen and fibronectin modifies periodontal cell behavior.

Background: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been linked to pathogenic mechanisms of diabetes mellitus. However, little is known about the contribution of protein glycation to periodontal disease in patients with diabetes. Therefore, this study investigated whether glycation of type I collagen (COLI) and fibronectin (FN) modified the behavior of human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs) and periodontal ligament fibroblasts (hPDLs).

Methods: Procedures for rapid in vitro glycation of COLI and FN used methylglyoxal (MG). Formation of AGEs was analyzed by changes in protein migration using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting with antibodies specific for MG-glycated proteins. Experiments then characterized the effects of glycated FN and COLI on the behavior of hGFs and hPDLs.

Results: MG glycated COLI and FN in <6 hours. Confirming the specificity of the reactions, antibodies specific for MG-induced AGEs reacted with glycated FN and COLI but not with control proteins. In cell culture experiments, glycated FN was significantly less efficient in supporting the attachment of hGFs and hPDLs (P <0.05). Moreover, the morphologic parameters, including length, area, perimeter, and shape factor, were altered (P <0.001) for cells on both glycated proteins. Finally, cell migration was reduced on glycated FN and COLI (P <0.001).

Conclusions: MG treatment efficiently glycated COLI and FN, providing a new tool to study the effects of diabetes on periodontal disease. The substantial effects of glycated COLI and FN on hGF and hPDL behavior indicated that protein glycation contributed to the pathogenesis and altered periodontal wound healing observed in patients with diabetes.