Etiopathogenesis in periodontal disease – Studies on integrins in the periodontal ligament

Cells in tissue interact with other cells and with proteins in the extracellular matrix via specific receptors called integrins. Integrins have an important function in binding cells to the surrounding tissue, and are important actors in the transfer of signals from the surroundings into the cell. Integrins also have an important role in embryonic development and wound healing.

In this project, the repertoire of integrins in the periodontal ligament was determined on RNA and protein levels. Most interest was dedicated to the collagenbinding integrins, with special emphasize on the function of the α11β1 integrin. Integrin α11β1 in the periodontal ligamnet is involved in tooth eruption of mouse incisors. No polymorphisms were identified in the promoter region of DNA from patients with chronic periodontal disease.

More information of the projects can be found here:
https://www.uib.no/rg/matrix

Collaborators:
Professor Anne Isine Bolstad, Department of Clinical Dentistry - Periodontics
Professor Donald Gullberg, Department of Biomedicine - Section of Physiology.
Post Doc Malgorzata M. Barczyk, PhD, Department of Biomedicine - Section of Physiology.

https://www.uib.no/personer/Anne.Bolstad
https://www.uib.no/personer/Donald.Gullberg

https://www.uib.no/personer/Malgorzata.Barczyk

The project is supported by L. Meltzers høyskolefond