Periostin: Immunomodulatory Effects on Oral Diseases

Fig. 1. Schematic representation of periostin structural domains. Periostin protein sequence consists of a single sequence, the EMI domain, the four FAS-1 domains, and a variable domain (VD) which comprised nine (15–23) different exons. A combination of exons 15–23 generates four periostin isoforms which have been sequenced and elucidated. Periostin comprised 23 exons. In humans, the gene is located at 13q13.3, but in mice, at 3C. Both in human and mice, the terminal exons are protein coding. The N-terminal region of the periostin promotes cellular functions. The C-terminal binds to extracellular matrix molecular entities and regulates the general organization of the extracellular matrix.

Fig. 2. The different functions of periostin in maintaining health of oral and dental tissues.