Periodontal repair in dogs: effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 onalveolar bone and cementum regeneration

Background, aim: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) represents a fa mily of growth-modulating proteins with fundamental roles in connective tis sue and bone development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the p otential for regeneration of alveolar bone and cementum following surgical implantation of recombinant human TGF-beta 1 (rhTGF-beta 1). Method: Bilateral, critical size, supra-alveolar periodontal defects in 5 b eagle dogs were surgically implanted with rhTGF-beta 1 in a calcium carbona te carrier (CaCO3) or with carrier alone. The animals were euthanized at 4 weeks postsurgery and block-biopsies of the defects were processed for hist ologic and histometric analysis. Results: Surgical implantation of rhTGF-beta 1 resulted in minimal, if any, stimulation of alveolar bone or cementum regeneration. Linear bone and cem entum regeneration in rhTGF-beta 1-treated defects was 1.2+/-0.6 and 0.01+/ -0.01 mm, respectively. Corresponding values for the controls were 1.0+/-0. 6 and 0.01+/-0.03 mm. Conclusions. The results suggest that, under the conditions (dose, carrier, defect type) evaluated here, treatment of periodontal defects in beagle do gs with rhTGF-beta 1 may be of limited clinical benefit.