In vitro reparative dentin: a biochemical and morphological study

Eur J Histochem. 2013 Aug 6;57(3):e23. doi: 10.4081/ejh.2013.e23.

Abstract

In this study, starting from human dental pulp cells cultured in vitro, we simulated reparative dentinogenesis using a medium supplemented with different odontogenic inductors. The differentiation of dental pulp cells in odontoblast-like cells was evaluated by means of staining, and ultramorphological, biochemical and biomolecular methods. Alizarin red staining showed mineral deposition while transmission electron microscopy revealed a synthesis of extracellular matrix fibers during the differentiation process. Biochemical assays demonstrated that the differentiated phenotype expressed odontoblast markers, such as Dentin Matrix Protein 1 (DMP1) and Dentin Sialoprotein (DSP), as well as type I collagen. Quantitative data regarding the mRNA expression of DMP1, DSP and type I collagen were obtained by Real Time PCR. Immunofluorescence data demonstrated the various localizations of DSP and DMP1 during odontoblast differentiation. Based on our results, we obtained odontoblast-like cells which simulated the reparative dentin processes in order to better investigate the mechanism of odontoblast differentiation, and dentin extracellular matrix deposition and mineralization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anthraquinones / chemistry
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Culture Techniques*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dental Pulp / cytology*
  • Dentin / chemistry*
  • Dentin / cytology
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Odontoblasts / cytology*
  • Odontoblasts / metabolism
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sialoglycoproteins / metabolism
  • Staining and Labeling

Substances

  • Anthraquinones
  • DMP1 protein, human
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Sialoglycoproteins
  • dentin sialophosphoprotein
  • alizarin