Oxidative stress and interactions with biomechanical loading on cell metabolism of periodontal tissues

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Werner Götz
• Subject Area: Dentistry, Oral Surgery
• Term: from 2008 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 58918792

In the periodontal ligament (PDL) and alveolar bone oxidative stress seems to be correlated to mechanical, hypoxic and inflammatory influences and involved in the pathogenesis of occlusal overloading, inflammation and systemic disease effects. Oxidative stress is characterized by a disequilibrium in redox signaling and can lead to cellular dysfunctions and cell death. For the detection of oxidative stress, biomarkers like reactive oxygen species (ROS), enzyme systems and antioxidants can be used. Such markers will be investigated in human PDL cells and alveolar osteoblasts after mechanical, hypoxic and LPS stimulation using gene expression, biochemical and immunocytochemical methods. The activation of ROS related signal transduction pathways and transcription factors will also be evaluated. Cells will be stimulated with ROS to investigate their behavior under oxidative stress conditions. Supernatants from these experiments will be used to treat osteoclast precursors as a model system for ROS mediated bone loss in periodontitis. In healthy probands and patients suffering from periodontal diseases, gingival non-invasive oxygen measurements will be undertaken and gingival biopsies investigated for the expression of different ROS and antioxidants giving new insights into the role of oxidative stress in periodontal physiology and disease.

• DFG Programme: Clinical Research Units
• Subproject of: KFO 208: Aetiology and Sequelae of Periodontal Diseases - Genetic, Cell Biological and Biomechanical Aspects
• Participating Person: Dr. Birgit Rath-Deschner