The role of dental pulp cells in resorption of deciduous teeth

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2008 Jan;105(1):113-20. doi: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2007.06.026. Epub 2007 Oct 17.

Abstract

Objective: To address the question whether dental pulp cells of exfoliating human deciduous teeth have some roles for controlling or regulating the root resorption via secreting key molecules (OPG, RANKL, CSF-1, TGFbeta, MCP-1 and Cbfa-1) in osteoclastogenesis, we used a sensitive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method for detection of mRNA expressions for the cytokines listed.

Study design: The dental pulps were retrieved from incisor and molar teeth in the late stage of shedding (n = 30) and from sound premolar teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons (control group; n = 30). The RT-PCR assays were used to identify targeted gene expression.

Results: Of the cytokines examined, RANKL and CSF-1 expressions showed significantly higher occurrence in deciduous dental pulps than in permanent teeth pulpal tissues (P < .040).

Conclusions: The findings may suggest an interactive role for pulp tissue cells in the physiologic root resorption process. The cells of dental pulp may have some cytokine-producing cells which mediate monocyte-macrophage lineage to form osteo/odontoclasts, and the RANKL/RANK system might be involved in human deciduous teeth resorption.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • DNA Primers / analysis
  • Dental Pulp / cytology*
  • Dental Pulp / diagnostic imaging
  • Dental Pulp / metabolism
  • Epidemiologic Methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / analysis
  • Male
  • RANK Ligand / analysis
  • RANK Ligand / physiology
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Radiography
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Tooth Exfoliation / diagnostic imaging
  • Tooth Exfoliation / metabolism*
  • Tooth Resorption / diagnostic imaging
  • Tooth Resorption / metabolism*
  • Tooth, Deciduous / diagnostic imaging
  • Tooth, Deciduous / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • RANK Ligand
  • RNA, Messenger
  • TNFSF11 protein, human
  • Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor