Effect of c-Myb overexpression on osteoblastic-, odontoblastic-, and cementoblastic differentiation of primary human periodontal ligament cells

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is a connective tissue, and PDL cells have a potential to differentiate into cementoblasts, osteoblasts, and gingival fibroblasts. This study investigated whether transcription factor c-Myb could induce differentiation of PDL cells for periodontal regeneration. PDL cells were isolated from extracted teeth and cultured. c-Myb was transfected to PDL cells using replication-deficient adenoviral vector. Differentiation of the PDL cells was analyzed by immunoblot, alkaline phosphatase activity, Alizarin red stain, and immunofluorescence analysis. Cell viability on titanium surfaces was analyzed by crystal violet stain and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. PDL cells cultured in osteogenic medium showed increased production of osteogenic and cementogenic molecules. Moreover, c-Myb-transfected cells showed increased production of dentinogenic molecules, in addition to the osteogenic and cementogenic molecules, even in normal culture condition. c-Myb-transfected cells also exhibited increased autophagy and type I collagen production under nutrient deprivation. When grown on a titanium surface, c-Myb-transfected cells showed increased production of osteogenesis-, dentinogenesis-, and cementogenesis-related molecules and cell viability. Thus, these results suggest that c-Myb might play an essential role during periodontal regeneration by improving the differentiation of PDL cells, and c-Myb can be utilized for enhancing the attachment of PDL cells to dental implant surfaces.