Division of Periodontology

Frank C. Nichols, D.D.S., Ph.D.

Professor

Degrees, Year Attained and University Attended

• Certificate in Periodontics, Masters of Dental Science, 1981-1984, University of Connecticut
• Ph.D., Biophysics, 1976-1981, University of Rochester
• D.D.S., 1973-1976, Ohio State University
• B.S., 1970-1973, University of Cincinnati

Brief Chronology of Professional Career

• 2002 - Present: Professor, Division of Periodontology, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
• 1992 - 2002: Associate Professor, Department of Periodontology, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
• 1989 - 1998: Graduate Program Director, Department of Periodontology, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
• 1984 - 1992: Assistant Professor, Department of Periodontology, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
• 1984 - 1985: Assistant Professor in Residence, Department of Periodontology, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine

Main Responsibilities

Teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, research, and patient care with University Dentists.

Courses Taught

• D200-330, Diagnosis and Treatment of Periodontal Diseases
• D300-330, Periodontal Diseases and Their Treatment (Course Director)
  Morphology and Occlusion
• Tunxis Dental Hygiene-Periodontics (Course Director)
• Periodontal Pathobiology (first and second year postgraduate literature review)

Major Research Interests

Microbial pathogenesis, lipids, ceramides, GC-MS and LC-MS, NMR, signal transduction, Toll like receptors, LPS, IL-1, gingival fibroblast activation in culture, peripheral blood monocyte activation, gene expression in Porphyromonas gingivalis and prostaglandin biochemistry. Additional areas of interest relate to periodontal pathogen effects on autoimmune disease, atherosclerosis development and systemic inflammatory disease. Host defense mechanisms altered by periodontal pathogens include inhibition of defensin secretion, stimulation of osteoclast mediated bone resorption independent of RANKL regulation and activation of antigen presenting cells including dendritic cells.

Recent Publications

Nichols, F.C. and B. Maraj. Relationship between hydroxy fatty acids and prostaglandin E2 in gingival tissue. Infect. Immun., 66:5805-5811, 1998.

Nichols, F.C. Novel ceramides recovered from Porphyromonas gingivalis: Relationship to adult periodontitis. J. Lipid Res., 39:2360-2372, 1998.

Zadeh, H.H., F.C. Nichols and K.T. Miyasaki. The role of cell-mediated immune response to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis in periodontitis. Periodontology 2000, 20:239-288, 1999.

Safavi, K.E. and Nichols, F.C. Effects of a bacterial cell wall fragment on monocyte inflammatory function. J. Endodontics, 26:153-155, 2000.

Nichols, F.C., Levinbook, H., Shnaydman, M. and Goldschmidt, J. Prostaglandin E2 secretion from gingival fibroblasts treated with interleukin-1β: Effects of lipid extracts from P. gingivalis or calculus. J. Perio. Res. 36:142-152, 2001.

Bennett, J., Gross, J., Nichols, F., Nachiappan, C. and D. Burgess. The chemical and physical stability of a 1:1 mixture of propofol and methohexital. Anesthesia Progress 48(2):61, 2001.

Nichols, F.C. , Riep, B., Mun, J., Morton, M.D., Bojarski, M.T., Dewhirst, F. E., Smith, M.B. Structures and biological activity of phosphorylated dihydroceramides of Porphyromonas gingivalis. J. Lipid Res. 45 (14): 1-14, 2004.

Nichols, F.C., Riep, B., Mun, J., Morton, M.D., Kawai, T., Dewhirst, F.E., Smith, M.B. Structures and biological activities of novel phosphatidylethanolamine lipids of Porphyromonas gingivalis. J. Lipid Res. 47: 844-853, 2006.

Nichols, F.C. and Rojanasomsith, K. Porphyromonas gingivalis lipids and diseased dental tissues. Oral Microbiol. Immunol. 21: 84-92, 2006.

Nichols, F.C., Riep, B., Mun, J., Morton, M.D., Kawai, T., Dewhirst, F.E., Smith, M.B. Structures and biological activities of novel phosphatidylethanolamine lipids of Porphyromonas gingivalis. J. Lipid Res. 47: 844-853, 2006.

Zahlten J., Riep, B., Nichols, F.C., Walter, C., Schmeck, B., Bernimoulin, J.-P., Hippenstiel, S. 2007. Porphyromonas gingivalis Dihydroceramides induce Apoptosis in Endothelial Cells. J. Dental Res. In press.

Wohlfert, E., Nichols, F.C., Nevius, E., Clark, R.B. 2007. Peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ and immunoregulation: Enhancement of regulatory T cells through PPAR γ-dependent and –independent mechanisms. J. Immunol. In press.