• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.395-402
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• 2005

In considering the healing process of injured periodontal tissue, healing rate would be influenced by the cellular activity of periodontal fibroblasts(PDLFs). In addition, the reattachment among PDLFs should be induced for healing process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of epidermal growth factor(EGF) on the proliferation and attachment of PDLFs and to verify the efficacy of EGF as a storage media or a pre-replantation conditioner of traumatically avulsed tooth. Human recombinant epidermal growth factor(hrEGF) and human periodontal fibroblasts from first premolar were prepared. At first, MTT assay was done to evaluate the toxic effect on human periodontal fibroblast and the maximum cellular growth of EGF. Cellular proliferation rate was then compared between control group and 10ng/ml EGF added group. Also, western blot was done to evaluate the expression of fibronectin in both groups. The results were as follows: 1. From MTT assay, EGF showed no toxic effect on PDL fibroblasts. The highest proliferation was shown at 10ng/ml EGF. 2. In 10ng/ml EGF added group, the degree of proliferation of PDLFs was significantly higher than that in control group. 3. Fibronectin expression of EGF added group was also significantly higher than that of control group. From this study we could conclude that EGF enhanced the regeneration rate of periodontal fibroblast, which could be used as a pretreatment agent or a storage media for traumatically avulsed teeth.