Monoclonal antibodies against integrin subunits α6 and β1 inhibit migration of gingival epithelium in organ culture

Background: The main problem in the posterior instrumental treatment of periodontitis is the re-epithelization of the periodontal defects, leading to the formation of an unphysiological, long junctional epithelium inhibiting the regeneration of periodontal attachment. A precondition for the re-epithelization is the interaction between epithelial cells and their extracellular matrix mediated by integrins. Integrins are cellular adhesion molecules (CAM), binding to different structures of the extracellular matrix, e.g., collagen, laminin, or fibronectin. Methods: Biopsy specimens of marginal gingiva, composed of epithelium and subepithelial connective tissue, were cultivated on microporous membranes in tissue culture plates. The culture medium was supplemented with monoclonal antibodies directed against human integrin subunits. The period of cultivation was 6 days and the medium was replaced daily. After cultivation, the tissue development was analyzed by histological and immunohistochemical methods. Results: We found that the combination of antibodies directed against the integrin subunits alpha 6 and beta 1 inhibited the migration of epithelium completely in 9 out of 10 cultures, whereas control cultures containing none or only irrelevant antibodies demonstrated connective tissues completely covered by epithelium. Conclusions: Influencing the regeneration of periodontal tissue on a molecular basis by using antibodies directed against integrin subunits may be of future interest in postsurgical treatment of periodontal diseases.