Amelogenin enhances the reparative competence of trauma-affected periodontal ligament stem cells: implications for tooth autotransplantation.

BACKGROUND

The tissue healing after autologous tooth transplantation primarily relies on the physiological stimulation of the periodontal ligament to promote the reparative formation of cementum and alveolar bone. Previous studies have demonstrated the role of amelogenin (AMG) in periodontal repair and regeneration, but research on its effect in autotransplanted teeth remains limited.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of AMG on hPDLSCs derived from isolated teeth in vitro and to evaluate its potential to enhance periodontal and bone reconstruction following tooth transplantation in vivo.

METHODS

Sixteen teeth from two beagles were divided into AMG-treated and control groups (n = 8 each). Retention rate, mobility, probing depth, and radiographic healing were assessed postoperatively. At 6 months, micro-CT, H&E, Masson’s trichrome, and TRAP staining evaluated bone reconstruction and root resorption. hPDLSCs were cultured with or without AMG, and viability, proliferation, migration (Calcein AM/PI, CCK-8, scratch assay), and osteogenic differentiation (ALP, Alizarin Red S, RT-qPCR, Western blot) were analyzed.

RESULTS

In vitro assays demonstrated that AMG significantly promoted the proliferation and migration of hPDLSCs. Under osteogenic differentiation conditions, AMG-treated hPDLSCs exhibited upregulated mRNA levels of ALP, OPN, TGF-β1, COL-I, and COL-III, along with enhanced protein expression of BSP, OPN, ALP, COL-I and RUNX2. Increased ALP activity and mineralized nodule formation further confirmed the osteogenic potential of AMG. In vivo experiments revealed that AMG application improved cementum-like tissue repair and reduced root resorption in transplanted teeth.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight that AMG can enhance key regenerative processes in vitro and improve periodontal healing outcomes in a beagles autotransplantation model under the conditions tested, emphasizing its therapeutic potential in optimizing hPDLSCs-mediated tissue repair during tooth transplantation.