BACKGROUND
Periodontal ligament (PDL) expresses endogenous growth factors, such as bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs), which facilitate maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Inflammatory conditions, such as chronic periodontitis, could disrupt this homeostasis, and physiologic levels of growth factors
Mineralization of bones and teeth is tightly regulated by levels of extracellular inorganic phosphate (Pi) and pyrophosphate (PPi). Three regulators that control pericellular concentrations of Pi and PPi include tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP), progressive ankylosis protein (ANK), and