Komori T, Kram V, Perry S et al. Type VI Collagen Deficiency Causes Enhanced Periodontal Tissue Destruction. J Dent Res 2024; DOI: 10.1177/00220345241256306.

COL6 plays a crucial role in the PDL, influencing fibroblast function in fibrillogenesis and affecting the immune response in periodontitis.

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is a fibrillar connective tissue composed of highly specialised extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules and a heterogeneous population of cells responsible for collagen formation, immune response, bone formation, and chewing force sensation. Type VI collagen (COL6), a widely distributed ECM molecule, plays a critical role in the structural integrity and mechanical properties of various tissues, including muscle, tendon, bone, cartilage, and skin. However, its role in the PDL remains largely unknown. This study showed that deficiency of COL6 impairs PDL fibrillogenesis and exacerbates tissue destruction in ligature-induced periodontitis (LIP). COL6-deficient mice exhibited increased bone loss and degraded PDL in LIP and fibroblasts expressing high levels of Col6α2 were pivotal in ECM organisation and cell-ECM interactions. COL6 deficiency in the PDL led to increased fibroblasts geared toward the inflammatory response. Cultured COL6-deficient fibroblasts from the PDL exhibited decreased expression of genes related to collagen fibre turnover and ECM organisation, as well as migration and proliferation.