AIM:To investigate effects of chitosan on
alkaline phosphatase activity and the secretion of
osteocalcin of periodontal ligament
cells( PDLCs) in elderly people.METHODS:The PDLCs of elderly or young people were isolated and cultured.The effects of chitosan(0.05 g/L,0.1 g/L,0.2 g/L) on
alkaline phosphatase activity of PDLCs in elderly people was measured with alkaline
Phosphatase activity assay kit;the osteocalcin secretion of PDLCs in elderly people were determined by radioimmunoassay with osteocalcin immunoradiometric kit,and they were compared with those of PDLCs in young people.RESULTS:①Comparing with the control group,alkaline phosphatase activities of PDLCs in elderly people treated with Chi (0.05 g/L) in cell lysis buffer and Chi (0.1 g/L) and Chi (0.2 g/L) in cell culture media were significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Comparing the differences of alkaline phosphatase activities between the group treated with Chi and control group,the alkaline phosphatase activities both in lysis buffer and in culture media in young people were significantly higher than those in elderly people (P<0.05, P<0.01).②Comparing with the control group,the osteocalcin secretions of PDLCs treated with Chi (0.1 g/L, 0.2 g/L) in elderly people on day 21 and the osteocalcin secretions of PDLCs treated with Chi (0.05 g/L,0.1 g /L) on day 7,with Chi (0.1 g/L) on day 14 and 21 in young people were obviously increased(P<0.05).Comparing the differences of the osteocalcin secretions between the groups treated with Chi and control groups, the osteocalcin secretions of PDLCs treated with Chi (0.05 g/L,0.1 g/L)on day 7 and 21 in young people were significantly higher than those in elderly people.CONCLUSION:The chitosan can promote PDLCs in elderly people and young people to differentiate.This effect is more significant in young people than in elderly ones.