ANTIPROLIFERATIVE POLYSACCHARIDES MODULATE DISTRIBUTION AND PHENOTYPIC-EXPRESSION OF COLLAGENS BY GINGIVAL FIBROBLASTS

Gingival fibroblasts are particularly involved in the physiologic main tenance and repair of periodontium. During these processes, cell proli feration and synthesis of a collagen-rich gingival matrix should be co ntrolled. A dextran derivative, namely, carboxy methyl dextran benzyla mide sulfonate (CMDBS), considered to be a functional analog of hepari n, was previously described to regulate proliferation of different typ es of cells and independently to modulate the expression of collagen b iosynthesis. In this report, we demonstrate that CMDBS and heparin inh ibited gingival fibroblast proliferation. We then analyzed collagen bi osynthesis by measuring the incorporation of the radiolabeled [H-3]pro line precursor into collagen by postconfluent gingival fibroblasts. Ou r results showed CMDBS did not alter total collagen synthesis; it indu ced the preferential accumulation of newly synthesized collagen into t he pericellular matrix; and it decreased the expression of type III co llagen, particularly in the cell layer. Taken together, our results su ggest that by inhibiting cell proliferation, CMDBS could induce the sy nthesis of an extracellular collagenous matrix which forms a network b etween gingival fibroblasts. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.