KFO 208: Aetiology and Sequelae of Periodontal Diseases - Genetic, Cell Biological and Biomechanical Aspects

牙周炎是一种复杂的多因素疾病，其确切的发病机制目前仍不清楚。因此，临床研究股的项目致力于研究牙周组织中的炎症、组织破坏和再生过程，以及在体外、动物和临床研究背景下可能对一般健康造成的后遗症。临床研究组的主要目标是通过更好地了解牙周疾病的原因和影响以及有关组织的再生过程，改进牙周炎的预防、疾病控制和治疗。临床研究股开始采用跨学科的研究方法，包括遗传学、细胞生物学和生物力学方面。识别与牙周炎相关的基因多态以及影响牙周状况的生物力学和血管因素，应该能够使有风险的患者得到识别，并在比目前可能的更早阶段进行治疗。新的治疗方法有望成为识别和表征树突状细胞群体以及由β-防御素介导的效应的结果。通过阐明牙周疾病对血管病理的意义，特别是血管再生对牙周炎治疗的意义，新的治疗形式可能会通过系统的方法，既降低整个患者的健康风险，又提高局部治疗的成功率。此外，主要集中在牙周创伤愈合的生物力学方面以及再生治疗策略的可能后果。对釉质基质衍生物、胰岛素样生长因子和甲状旁腺激素在细胞和分子水平调节其作用的机制的研究将揭示它们在再生牙周治疗中的应用潜力。

Periodontitis is a complex multifactorial disease and the exact aetiopathogenetic mechanisms are still largely unknown. The projects of the Clinical Research Unit are thus devoted to the inflammatory, tissue-destructive and regenerative processes in the periodontium as well as the possible sequelae for general health in the context of in-vitro, animal and clinical studies. The major goal of the Clinical Research Unit is to improve the prevention, disease control and therapy of periodontitis through a better understanding of the causes and effects of periodontal diseases as well as of regenerative processes in the involved tissues. The Clinical Research Unit embarks on an interdisciplinary research approach that comprises genetic, cell biological and biomechanical aspects. The identification of periodontitis-associated genetic polymorphisms as well as biomechanical and vascular factors that influence the periodontal situation should enable patients at risk to be recognised and therapy to be carried out at an earlier stage than has been possible until now. New therapeutic approaches are expected as a result of identifying and characterising dendritic cell populations and the effects mediated by beta-defensin. By clarifying the significance of periodontal diseases for vascular pathology and especially the significance of vascular regeneration for the treatment of periodontitis, new forms of therapy may possibly result that, through a systemic approach, could both reduce the health risks for the entire patient and also improve the success of local treatment. Furthermore, a major focus is given to biomechanical aspects in the context of periodontal wound healing and possible consequences for regenerative treatment strategies. The investigation of the mechanisms whereby enamel matrix derivatives, insulin-like growth factors and parathyroid hormone mediate their effects at cellular and molecular levels will reveal their potential for application in regenerative periodontal therapy.