Alkaline Phosphatase of Human Periodontal Ligament Fibroblast-like Cells

¹ Department of Oral Biochemistry, Orthodontics, Kanagawa Dental College, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 238, Japan
² Department of Oral Biochemistry, Orthodontics,Kanagawa Dental College, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 238, Japan
³ Department of Histology, Tokyo Dental College, lnage, Chiba 281, Japan

Cultures of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPLF) and human alveolar bone cells (HABC) were established, maintained, and characterized with respect to alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) activity, a marker enzyme of bone cells. During the proliferative phase, ALPase of HPLF and HABC were not detectable. But at the confluent stage, HPLF synthesized levels of ALPase similar to HABC. Also, ALPase activity of HPLF was markedly stimulated (7.5-fold) by 5x10^-9 mol/L 1,25 (OH)₂-vitamin D₃(1,25 (OH)₂-D₃.

Therefore, since ALPase activity of HPLF resembles that present in osteoblasts, human periodontal ligament fibroblasts may function as "osteoblastic" fibroblasts.

Note:

Our special thanks to Dr. Margaret Neuman for her expert advice on the manuscript. We also wish to thank Mrs. Linda Lawton for her helpful contributions.

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