Epidermal growth factor enhances osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells in vitro

Head Face Med. 2015 Sep 3:11:29. doi: 10.1186/s13005-015-0086-5.

Abstract

Introduction: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) play an important role in extracellular matrix mineralization, a complex process required for proper bone regeneration, one of the biggest challenges in dentistry. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the osteogenic potential of EGF and bFGF on dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs).

Material and methods: Human DPSCs were isolated using CD105 magnetic microbeads and characterized by flow cytometry. To induce osteoblast differentiation, the cells were cultured in osteogenic medium supplemented with EGF or bFGF at a low concentration. Cell morphology and expression of CD146 and CD10 surface markers were analyzed using fluorescence microscopy. To measure mineralization, an alizarin red S assay was performed and typical markers of osteoblastic phenotype were evaluated by RT-PCR.

Results: EGF treatment induced morphological changes and suppression of CD146 and CD10 markers. Additionally, the cells were capable of producing calcium deposits and increasing the mRNA expression to alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OCN) in relation to control groups (p < 0.001). However, bFGF treatment showed an inhibitory effect.

Conclusion: These data suggests that DPSCs in combination with EGF could be an effective stem cell-based therapy for bone tissue engineering applications in periodontics and oral implantology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CD146 Antigen / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dental Pulp / cytology*
  • EGF Family of Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / pharmacology*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Neprilysin / metabolism
  • Osteogenesis / drug effects*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Stem Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • CD146 Antigen
  • EGF Family of Proteins
  • MCAM protein, human
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
  • Neprilysin