Growth factors in periodontal regeneration: A review

Periodontitis is a bacterial infection that results in destruction of attachment fibers and supporting bone. The ultimate goal of periodontal treatment is the regeneration of periodontal structures lost during periodontal disease. Periodontal regeneration result in functionally aligned periodontal ligament fibers between newly formed bone and root surface. The regeneration of periodontal tissue requires an appropriate biological environment which induces the differentiation of undifferentiated cells to make required structures. Various molecules such as growth factors and cytokine plays a vital role in regeneration. Growth factors (GFs) are natural biological mediators that regulate key cellular events that are part of tissue repair and regeneration. Growth factors perform their action by binding to specific cell-surface receptors present on various target cells including osteoblasts, cement oblasts and periodontal ligament fibroblasts. Growth factors participate in cell function led to exogenous application during periodontal tissue repair aiming to their use as an alternative therapeutic approach to periodontal therapy. The aim of this article is to review the literature with respect to biological actions of PDGF, TGF, BMP, FGF, IGF and EGF on periodontal cells and tissues, which are involved in periodontal regeneration.