Project Details
Projekt
The effect of adipokines and obesity on periodontal destruction and regeneration
Applicant
Professor Dr. James Deschner
Subject Area
Dentistry, Oral Surgery
Term
from 2008 to 2016
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 58918792
Strong evidence has accumulated that periodontitis is associated with obesity. In obese patients, serum levels of a number of adipokines, which are cytokines derived from adipose tissue, are altered. Adipokines regulate food intake and energy expenditure, but also inflammatory and wound healing processes. Periodontal regenerative healing can be induced by enamel matrix derivative (EMD) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2). Whether adipokines interfere with the actions of EMD or BMP2 is as yet unknown. We propose to study the effects of adipokines and obesity on periodontal destruction and regeneration in vitro and in vivo. Specifically, we aim to examine: (i) the regulation of adipokines in human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells in response to inflammatory, hypoxic, biomechanical and regenerative signals in vitro; (ii) if and to what extent adipokines modulate PDL cell functions in the presence and absence of EMD or BMP2; and (iii) the intracellular signaling pathways underlying the potential interactions of adipokines with EMD and BMP2, respectively. Additionally, we will extend in vitro findings by examining the effects of obesity on periodontal regeneration in an animal model. These experiments will help clarify the role of adipokines and obesity in periodontal destruction and regeneration.
DFG Programme
Clinical Research Units
