Porous polysulfone coated with platelet-derived growth factor-BB stimulates proliferation of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts.

The purpose of this study was to investigate if the treatment of porous polysulfone (PPSF) with various concentrations of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) would stimulate the proliferation of the adherent human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDLF) in culture. Sterilized PPSF cylinders were immersed in an Eagle's minimum essential medium supplemented with 0.5% fetal bovine serum and 1% penicillin/streptomycin containing either 0, 10, 20, or 50 ng/ml of PDGF-BB for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the PPSF cylinders were removed and allowed to dry then placed in culture plates for each time point. Pooled HPDLF (8 x 10(4)) and 3H-thymidine in medium were pipetted into each well to cover the treated and control PPSF cylinders and plates were then incubated. At 1, 4, and 10 days the PPSF cylinders were removed and macromolecular precipitation was performed. Incorporation of 3H-thymidine was measured and a 2-way ANOVA with repeated measures was performed. In addition, determination of binding and release was performed using I125-PDGF-BB treated PPSF at 0, 2, 12, and 24 hours, and at 4 and 10 days. Results showed that the effects on HPDLF were significant for dose (P = 0.0012; F = 5.74) and time (P = 0.0001; F = 40.83). At 4 days, the percent increases above the control for the doses 10, 20, and 50 ng/ml were 192%, 310%, and 162% respectively. In conclusion, our findings suggest that treating PPSF with PDGF-BB results in a significant increase in the proliferation of HPDLF cells adherent to PPSF.