Dental pulp stem cells from traumatically exposed pulps exhibited an enhanced osteogenic potential and weakened odontogenic capacity

作者:Wang, Yanping; Yan, Ming; Wang, Zhanwei; Wu, Jintao; Wang, Zilu; Zheng, Yangyu; Yu, Jinhua*
来源:Archives of Oral Biology, 2013, 58(11): 1709-1717.
DOI:10.1016/j.archoralbio.2013.09.001

摘要

Objectives: Traumatic pulp exposure can bring about some permanent damages to tooth tissues including dental pulps. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of traumatic pulp exposure on the osteo/odontogenic capacity of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Methods: Rat incisors were artificially fractured and dental pulps were exposed to the oral environment for 48 h. Then, multi-colony-derived DPSCs from the injured pulps (iDPSCs) were isolated. Their osteo/odontogenic differentiation and the involvement of NF-kappa B pathway were subsequently investigated. Results: iDPSCs presented a lower proliferative capacity than normal DPSCs (nDPSCs), as indicated by MTT and FCM assay. ALP levels in iDPSCs were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than those in nDPSCs. Alizarin red staining revealed that iDPSCs exhibited an increased capacity of calcium deposition. Moreover, iDPSCs expressed stronger osteogenic markers (Runx2/RUNX2 and Ocn/OCN) and less odontogenic gene/protein (Dspp/DSP) than nDPSCs in vitro. In vivo transplantation showed that nDPSCs implants generated the typical dentine-pulp complex while all iDPSCs pellets formed the osteodentin-like tissues which were immunopositive for OCN. Mechanistically, iDPSCs expressed the higher levels of cytoplasmic phosphorylated I kappa B alpha/P65 and nuclear P65 than nDPSCs, indicating an active cellular NF-kappa B pathway in iDPSCs. After the inhibition of NF-kappa B pathway, the osteogenic potential in iDPSCs was significantly down-regulated while odontogenic differentiation was up-regulated, as indicated by the decreased Alp/Runx2/Ocn and uprised Dspp expression. Conclusions: Pulp exposure for 48 h decreased the odontogenic capacity and enhanced the osteogenic potential of DPSCs via the NF-kappa B signalling pathway.