Journal of Dental Research Highlights Work of GSDM Trackman Lab
The July edition of the Journal of Dental Research published research by Professor Dr. Philip Trackman titled, “Loss of Basement Membrane Integrity in Human Gingival Overgrowth.“ This study extends findings that were published earlier this year in the American Journal of Pathology which detail evidence obtained for epithelial to mesenchymal transition contributing to the pathology of drug-induced human gingival overgrowth.
Drug-induced gingival overgrowth is a side effect caused by some anti-seizure, anti-hypertension, and immunosuppressant drugs. Gingival overgrowth is disfiguring, and impairs oral function and oral- and systemic health.
Dr. Trackman explained, “The new JDR paper presents evidence that the basement membrane, which normally acts as a barrier between the epithelium and connective tissue stroma, contains discontinuities in human gingival overgrowth tissues thereby potentially resulting in inappropriate leakage of signals between these compartments. This leakage can lead to epithelial cells becoming motile and more mesenchymal in nature, contributing to gingival overgrowth.”
He continued, “Breakdown of the basement membrane is an expected feature of EMT, but has not been previously observed to be increased in human gingival overgrowth tissues. Studies are in progress to interfere with EMT in mouse models of gingival overgrowth in order to develop potential therapeutic strategies.”
This study was supported by the NIDCR. Dr. Trackman credits Dr. Selva Sume and two Oral Biology MSD/ Periodontology CAGS candidates in his laboratory, Zeina Nseir and Yong Soo Kim, for carrying out much of the work related to this study. Additional research assistance was obtained from former GSDM Associate Professor Dr. Alpdogan Kantarci, now of the Forsyth Institute.
The abstract can be found in full online.