Laboratory of Oral Connective Tissue Biology

Martha Somerman, D.D.S, Ph.D.
Chief, Laboratory of Oral Connective Tissue Biology
Phone: (301) 402-5884
E-mail: somermanmj@mail.nih.gov

The Laboratory of Oral Connective Tissue Biology studies the molecular biology of dental-oral-craniofacial development, with a focus on the periodontal complex. We aim to understand cells and signals influencing tooth, bone, and periodontal ligament development in order to identify improved regenerative strategies. A variety of approaches are taken, including in vitro cell and organ culture, transgenic animal models for studying gene function, in vivo models for studying periodontal repair and regeneration, and studies involving human subjects focusing on genetic disorders and pathologies affecting the dentoalveolar complex. These studies should provide greater insight on all hard and soft connective tissues, as well as help identify links between systemic conditions and the oral cavity.

Our lab's recent focus areas have been:

Role of phosphate and pyrophosphate metabolism in physiology and pathology of the dentoalveolar complex
Role of extracellular matrix proteins and signaling molecules in development of the tooth root and differentiation of associated cell types
Novel approaches for periodontal regeneration

Selected Publications

Foster BL, Soenjaya Y, Nociti FH Jr, Holm E, Zerfas PM, Wimer HF, Holdsworth DW, Aubin JE, Hunter GK, Goldberg HA, Somerman MJ. Deficiency in Acellular Cementum and Periodontal Attachment in Bsp Null Mice. J Dent Res. 2012 Nov 26.

Foster BL, Nagatomo KJ, Tso HW, Tran AB, Nociti FH Jr, Narisawa S, Yadav MC, McKee MD, Millán JL, Somerman MJ. Tooth root dentin mineralization defects in a mouse model of hypophosphatasia. J Bone Miner Res. 2012 Sep 18. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.1767.

Foster BL, Nagatomo KJ, Nociti FH Jr, Fong H, Dunn D, Tran AB, Wang W, Narisawa S, Millán JL, Somerman MJ. Central role of pyrophosphate in acellular cementum formation. PLoS One. 2012;7(6):e38393. Epub 2012 Jun 4.

Tada H, Nemoto E, Foster BL, Somerman MJ, Shimauchi H. Phosphate increases bone morphogenetic protein-2 expression through cAMP-dependent protein kinase and ERK1/2 pathways in human dental pulp cells. Bone. 2011 Jun 1;48(6):1409-16.

Rodrigues TL, Nagatomo KJ, Foster BL, Nociti FH, Somerman MJ. Modulation of Phosphate/Pyrophosphate Metabolism to Regenerate the Periodontium. A Novel In Vivo Approach. J Periodontol. 2011 Apr 13. [Epub ahead of print]

Foster BL, Nagatomo KJ, Bamashmous SO, Tompkins KA, Fong H, Dunn D, Chu EY, Guenther C, Kingsley DM, Rutherford RB, Somerman MJ. The Progressive Ankylosis Protein Regulates Cementum Apposition and Extracellular Matrix Composition.Cells Tissues Organs. 2011 Mar 9

Hakki SS, Foster BL, Nagatomo KJ, Bozkurt SB, Hakki EE, Somerman MJ, Nohutcu RM. Bone morphogenetic protein-7 enhances cementoblast function in vitro. J Periodontol.2010 Nov;81(11):1663-74.

Kanaya S, Nemoto E, Ebe Y, Somerman MJ, Shimauchi H. Elevated extracellular calcium increases fibroblast growth factor-2 gene and protein expression levels via a cAMP/PKA dependent pathway in cementoblasts.Bone. 2010 Sep;47(3):564-72.

Chu EY, Fong H, Blethen FA, Tompkins KA, Foster BL, Yeh KD, Nagatomo KJ, Matsa-Dunn D, Sitara D, Lanske B, Rutherford RB, Somerman MJ. Ablation of systemic phosphate-regulating gene fibroblast growth factor 23 (Fgf23) compromises the dentoalveolar complex. Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2010 Jul;293(7):1214-26.

Zhang H, Tompkins K, Garrigues J, Snead ML, Gibson CW, Somerman MJ. Full length amelogenin binds to cell surface LAMP-1 on tooth root/periodontium associated cells.Arch Oral Biol. 2010 Jun;55(6):417-25.

See extended list of publications

Reviewed September 24, 2012