Differentiation ability of rat postnatal dental pulp cells in vitro

The current rapid progression in stem cell research has enhanced our knowledge of dental tissue regeneration. In this study, rat dental pulp cells were isolated and their differentiation ability was evaluated. First, dental pulp cells were obtained from maxillary incisors of male Wistar rats. Immunochemistry by stem cell marker STRO-1 proved the existence of stem cells or progenitors in the isolated cell population. The dissociated cells were then cultured both on smooth surfaces and on three-dimensional (3-D) scaffold materials in medium supplemented with beta-glycerophosphate, dexamethasone, and L-ascorbic acid. Cultures were analyzed by light and scanning electron microscopy and, on proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium content were determined and the polymerase chain reaction was performed for dentin sialophosphoprotein, osteocalcin, and collagen type I. These cells showed the ability to differentiate into odontoblast-like cells and produced calcified nodules, which had components similar to dentin. In addition, we found that the "odontogenic" properties of the isolated cells were supported by three-dimensional calcium phosphate and titanium scaffolds equally well.     

Canonical Wnt signaling acts synergistically on BMP9-induced osteo/odontoblastic differentiation of stem cells of dental apical papilla (SCAPs)

Dental pulp/dentin regeneration using dental stem cells combined with odontogenic factors may offer great promise to treat and/or prevent premature tooth loss. Here, we investigate if BMP9 and Wnt/β-catenin act synergistically on odontogenic differentiation. Using the immortalized SCAPs (iSCAPs) isolated from mouse apical papilla tissue, we demonstrate that Wnt3A effectively induces early osteogenic marker alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in iSCAPs, which is reduced by β-catenin knockdown. While Wnt3A and BMP9 enhance each other's ability to induce ALP activity in iSCAPs, silencing β-catenin significantly diminishes BMP9-induced osteo/odontogenic differentiation. Furthermore, silencing β-catenin reduces BMP9-induced expression of osteocalcin and osteopontin and in vitro matrix mineralization of iSCAPs. In vivo stem cell implantation assay reveals that while BMP9-transduced iSCAPs induce robust ectopic bone formation, iSCAPs stimulated with both BMP9 and Wnt3A exhibit more mature and highly mineralized trabecular bone formation. However, knockdown of β-catenin in iSCAPs significantly diminishes BMP9 or BMP9/Wnt3A-induced ectopic bone formation in vivo. Thus, our results strongly suggest that β-catenin may play an important role in BMP9-induced osteo/ondontogenic signaling and that BMP9 and Wnt3A may act synergistically to induce osteo/odontoblastic differentiation of iSCAPs. It's conceivable that BMP9 and/or Wnt3A may be explored as efficacious biofactors for odontogenic regeneration and tooth engineering.     

Differentiation of dental pulp stem cells into regular-shaped dentin-pulp complex induced by tooth germ cell conditioned medium

Investigations of the odontoblast phenotype are hindered by obstacles such as the limited number of odontoblasts within the dental pulp and the difficulty in purification of these cells. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a cell culture system in which the local environment is inductive and can promote dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) to differentiate into odontoblast lineage. In this study, we investigated the effect of conditioned medium from developing tooth germ cells (TGCs) on the differentiation and dentinogenesis of DPSCs both in vitro and in vivo. DPSCs were enzymatically isolated from the lower incisors of 4-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats and co-cultured with TGC conditioned medium (TGC-CM). The cell phenotype of induced DPSCs presents many features of odontoblasts, as assessed by the morphologic appearance, cell cycle modification, increased alkaline phosphatase level, synthesis of dentin sialoprotein, type I collagen and several other noncollagenous proteins, expression of the dentin sialophosphoprotein and dentin matrix protein 1 genes, and the formation of mineralized nodules in vitro. The induced DPSC pellets in vivo generated a regular-shaped dentin-pulp complex containing distinct dentinal tubules and predentin, while untreated pellets spontaneously differentiated into bone-like tissues. To our knowledge, this is the first study to mimic the dentinogenic microenvironment from TGCs in vitro, and our data suggest that TGC-CM creates the most odontogenic microenvironment, a feature essential and effective for the regular dentinogenesis mediated by DPSCs.     

Enrichment of osteogenic cell populations from rat bone marrow stroma

The presence of multiple cell types in bone marrow and their varying proportions from isolation to isolation may count for the considerable variation in the outcome of different experiments. The presence of these multiple subpopulations suggests a need for a method that can purify the osteogenic component, i.e. osteoprogenitors, from other components. The availabilities of monoclonal antibodies recognizing subpopulations of osteoblasts are providing means for antibody-based methods. The cell surface antigens STRO-1, ALP and HOP-26 were used for cell sorting experiments with fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). These cell populations were analyzed on differential gene expression, cell proliferation and differentiation into the osteoblastic lineage. The oligo-microarray results showed that only the ALP positive cell population expressed genes of the extracellular matrix; like different collagens, ECM-1 and matrix protease MMP-14. The real-time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) results showed that STRO-1 and ALP positive cells had an upregulation in expression of lipoprotein lipase, osteocalcin, and collagen type I. Integrin beta-3 was only upregulated for ALP positive cells, while for these cells downregulation occurred for the genes myosine, alkaline phosphatase and integrin beta-1. HOP-26 positive cells showed an upregulation in collagen type I compared to control group. The DNA analysis revealed that the cells of the control group and the HOP-26 positive cells showed a 5 times higher cell growth compared to the STRO-1 and ALP positive cells. The alkaline phosphatase activity showed no activity for the control group. The STRO-1 and ALP positive cells had a higher activity compared to the HOP-26 positive. The calcium measurements revealed only for the control group calcium at day 24. Based on the results of our study, we conclude that the FACS method had no negative effect on the proliferating as well as differentiating response of the cells. Further, we conclude that by using an antibody-based cell selection method, different cell populations with different mRNA expression profiles and different osteogenic characteristics can be obtained.     

Odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells induced by preameloblast-derived factors

The differentiation of odontoblasts is initiated by the organization of differentiating ameloblasts during tooth formation. However, the exact roles of ameloblast-derived factors in odontoblast differentiation have not yet been characterized. We investigated the effects of preameloblast-conditioned medium (PA-CM) on the odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) in?vitro and in?vivo. Furthermore, we analyzed the PA-CM by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify novel factors that facilitate odontoblast differentiation. In the co-culture of MDPC-23 cells or hDPSCs with mouse apical bud cells (ABCs), ABCs promoted differentiation of odontoblastic MDPC-23 cells and facilitated odontoblast differentiation of hDPSCs. PA-CM, CM from ABCs after 3 days culture, was most effective in increasing the dentin sialophosphoprotein promoter activity of odontoblastic MDPC-23 cells. When PA-CM-treated hDPSCs were transplanted into immunocompromised mice, they generated pulp-like structures lined with human odontoblast-like cells showing typical odontoblast processes. However, during recombinant human bone morphogenenetic protein 2-treated hDPSCs transplantation, some of the cells were entrapped in mineralized matrix possessing osteocyte characteristics. After proteomic analyses, we identified 113 types of proteins in PA-CM, of which we characterized 23. The results show that preameloblast-derived factors induce the odontogenic differentiation of hDPSCs and promote dentin formation.     

Involvement of the Klotho Protein in Dentin Formation and Mineralization

Klotho‐deficient mice exhibit multiple pathological conditions resembling human aging. Our previous study showed alterations in the distribution of osteocytes and in the bone matrix synthesis in klotho‐deficient mice. Although the bone and tooth share morphological features such as mineralization processes and components of the extracellular matrix, little information is available on how klotho deletion influences tooth formation. The present study aimed to elucidate the altered histology of incisors of klotho‐deficient mice–comparing the findings with those from their wild‐type littermates, by using immunohistochemistry for alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteopontin, and dentin matrix protein‐1 (DMP‐1), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated deoxyuridinetriphosphate nick end‐labeling (TUNEL) detection for apoptosis, and electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) analysis on calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), and magnesium (Mg). Klotho‐deficient incisors exhibited disturbed layers of odontoblasts, predentin, and dentin, resulting in an obscure dentin‐predentinal border at the labial region. Several odontoblast‐like cells without ALP activity were embedded in the labial dentin matrix, and immunopositivity for DMP‐1 and osteopontin was discernible in the matrix surrounding these embedded odontoblast‐like cells. TUNEL detection demonstrated an apoptotic reaction in the embedded odontoblast‐like cells and pulpal cells in the klotho‐deficient mice. EPMA revealed lower concentrations of Ca, P, and Mg in the klotho‐deficient dentin, except for the dentin around abnormal odontoblast‐like cells. These findings suggest the involvement of the klotho gene in dentinogenesis and its mineralization. Anat Rec, 2007. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Non-viral bone morphogenetic protein 2 transfection of rat dental pulp stem cells using calcium phosphate nanoparticles as carriers

Calcium phosphate nanoparticles have shown potential as non-viral vectors for gene delivery. The aim of this study was to induce bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp)2 transfection in rat dental pulp stem cells using calcium phosphate nanoparticles as a gene vector and then to evaluate the efficiency and bioactivity of the transfection. We also intended to investigate the behavior of transfected cells when seeded on 3-dimensional titanium fiber mesh scaffolds. Nanoparticles of calcium phosphate encapsulating plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (plasmid enhanced green fluorescent protein-BMP2) were prepared. Then, STRO-1-selected rat dental pulp stem cells were transfected using these nanoparticles. Transfection and bioactivity of the secreted BMP2 were examined. Thereafter, the transfected cells were cultured on a fibrous titanium mesh. The cultures were investigated using scanning electron microscipy and evaluated for cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium content. Finally, real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for odontogenesis-related gene expression. The results showed that the size of the DNA-loaded particles was approximately 100 nm in diameter. Nanoparticles could protect the DNA encapsulated inside from external DNase and release the loaded DNA in a low-acid environment (pH 3.0). In vitro, nanoparticle transfection was shown to be effective and to accelerate or promote the odontogenic differentiation of rat dental pulp stem cells when cultured in the 3-dimensional scaffolds. Based on our results, plasmid DNA-loaded calcium phosphate nanoparticles appear to be an effective non-viral vector for gene delivery and functioned well for odontogenic differentiation through Bmp2 transfection.     

Hard tissue formation of STRO-1-selected rat dental pulp stem cells in vivo

The objective of this study was to examine hard tissue formation of STRO-1-selected rat dental pulp-derived stem cells, seeded into a calcium phosphate ceramic scaffold, and implanted subcutaneously in mice. Previously, STRO-1 selection was used to obtain a mesenchymal stem cell progenitor subpopulation from primary dental pulp-derived stem cells. In the current study, these cells were cultured with three different media: "BMP-plus" medium containing dexamethasone and 100 ng/mL of rhBMP-2, "odontogenic" medium containing dexamethasone, and "control" medium without supplements. The cell-scaffold complexes were cultured in these media for 1, 4, or 8 days before implantation. Histological analysis demonstrated that the cultures with BMP-plus and 4 days of culture gave the highest percentage of hard tissue formation per implant (36 +/- 9% of pore area). Real-time PCR confirmed these results. In conclusion, STRO-1-selected dental pulp stem cells show effective hard tissue formation in vivo, and a short in vitro culture period and addition of BMP-2 can enhance this effect.     

Hard tissue formation in a porous HA/TCP ceramic scaffold loaded with stromal cells derived from dental pulp and bone marrow

The aim of this study was to compare the ability of hard tissue regeneration of four types of stem cells or precursors under both in vitro and in vivo situations. Primary cultures of rat bone marrow, rat dental pulp, human bone marrow, and human dental pulp cells were seeded onto a porous ceramic scaffold material, and then either cultured in an osteogenic medium or subcutaneously implanted into nude mice. For cell culture, samples were collected at weeks 0, 1, 3, and 5. Results were analyzed by measuring cell proliferation rate and alkaline phosphatase activity, scanning electron microscopy, and real-time PCR. Samples from the implantation study were retrieved after 5 and 10 weeks and evaluated by histology and real-time PCR. The results indicated that in vitro abundant cell growth and mineralization of extracellular matrix was observed for all types of cells. However, in vivo matured bone formation was found only in the samples seeded with rat bone marrow stromal cells. Real-time PCR suggested that the expression of Runx2 and the expression osteocalcin were important for the differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells, while dentin sialophosphoprotein contributed to the odontogenic differentiation. In conclusion, the limited hard tissue regeneration ability of dental pulp stromal cells questions their practical application for complete tooth regeneration. Repeated cell passaging may explain the reduction of the osteogenic ability of both bone- and dentinal-derived stem cells. Therefore, it is essential to develop new cell culture methods to harvest the desired cell numbers while not obliterating the osteogenic potential.     

骨形态发生蛋白2基因转染犬牙髓细胞

背景：研究发现骨形态发生蛋白2具有诱导间充质细胞向成骨细胞表型分化以及诱导新骨及修复性牙本质形成的能力。 目的：通过对细胞超微结构的分析,探讨骨形态发生蛋白2基因转染的犬牙髓细胞,向成牙本质细胞转化的过程。 方法：将培养的性状稳定的第4代犬牙髓细胞分为3组：基因转染组转染pEGFP-N1-BMP-2基因,空白载体转染组转染EGFP-N1空白荧光载体,未转染组不转染。 结果与结论：成功构建pEGFP-N1-BMP-2真核表达质粒,并成功将其转染犬牙髓细胞, pEGFP-N1-BMP-2质粒转染促进犬牙髓细胞分泌骨形态发生蛋白2。pEGFP-N1-BMP-2质粒转染有促进牙髓细胞碱性磷酸酶活性的作用。透射电镜观察结果显示：转染后的犬牙髓细胞具有成牙本质细胞的形态特点。说明pEGFP-N1-BMP-2 真核表达质粒转染后的牙髓细胞,具有成牙本质细胞的特征。     

Natural mineralized scaffolds promote the dentinogenic potential of dental pulp stem cells via the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway

The selection of a suitable scaffold material is important for dentin tissue regeneration, as the characteristics of biomaterials can potentially influence cell proliferation and differentiation. We compared the effects of different scaffolds on dentin regeneration based on dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and investigated the regulatory mechanisms of odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs by these scaffolds. Five different scaffolds were tested: demineralized dentin matrix (DDM), ceramic bovine bone (CBB), small intestinal submucosa (SIS), poly-L-lactate-co-glycolate, and collagen-chondroitin sulfate-hyaluronic acid. DPSCs cultured on DDM and CBB exhibited higher levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mRNA expression of bone sialoprotein, osteocalcin, dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP), and dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP-1) than those cultured on the other three scaffolds. Further, the phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) ERK1/2 and p38 in DPSCs cultured on DDM and CBB were also significantly enhanced compared with the other three scaffolds, and their inhibitors significantly inhibited odontogenic differentiation as assessed by ALP activity and mRNA expression of DSPP and DMP-1. The implantation experiment confirmed these results and showed a large amount of regular-shaped dentin-pulp complex tissues, including dentin, predentin, and odontoblasts only in the DDM and CBB groups. The results indicated that natural mineralized scaffolds (DDM and CBB) have potential as attractive scaffolds for dentin tissue-engineering-promoted odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs through the MAPK signaling pathway.     

Study of hydroxyapatite osteoinductivity with an osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells

Osteoinductivity of hydroxyapatite (HA) was investigated using uncommitted pluripotent mouse stem cells, C3H10T1/2 in an in vitro differentiation assay. For comparative analysis, the cells were cultured on substrates made of osteoinductive HA, with biocompatible titanium and plastics as the negative control. HA exhibited the ability to induce expression of osteo-specific genes in C3H10T1/2, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), type I collagen, and osteocalcin; compared with its insignificant up-regulation of the same genes in osteoblast-like cells, Saos-2. HA osteoinductivity exhibited in C3H10T1/2 was comparable to that of a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) with reference to the up-regulation of osteo-specific genes except the core binding factor 1 (Cbfa1, Runx). This result implies a difference in osteogenic induction pathway initiated by HA and BMP. Using this mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) culture assay, osteoinductivity was also demonstrated to be present in the conditioned medium derived from MSC cultured on HA substrates. This conditioned medium exhibited excellent ability to up-regulate ALP in the absence of HA and BMP. The results suggest that the HA can interact with the cells and generate potent inductive substance released into the medium. Such substance in turn is able to induce uncommitted cells to differentiate into the osteolineage.     

The effect of scaffold architecture on odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells

Previous studies have shown the superiority of nanofibrous (NF) poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) scaffolds in supporting the osteogenic differentiation of a few cell types and bone regeneration. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether NF-PLLA scaffolds are advantageous for the odontogenic differentiation and mineralization of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) over solid-walled (SW) PLLA scaffolds. The in?vitro studies demonstrated that, compared with SW scaffolds, NF scaffolds enhanced attachment and proliferation as well as odontogenic differentiation of human DPSCs. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the expression of odontogenic genes of human DPSCs were increased on NF scaffolds compared with that on SW scaffolds. In addition, more mineral deposition was observed on the NF scaffolds, as demonstrated by von Kossa staining, calcium content measurement and scanning electron microscopy. Consistent with the in?vitro studies, NF scaffolds promoted odontogenic differentiation and hard tissue formation compared with SW scaffolds after 8 weeks of ectopic transplantation in nude mice, as confirmed by von Kossa staining, Masson's trichrome staining and immunohistochemical staining for dentin sialoprotein. In conclusion, NF-PLLA scaffolds enhanced the odontogenic differentiation of human DPSCs and mineralization both in?vitro and in?vivo, and are promising scaffolds for dentin regeneration.     

Isolated rat dental pulp cell culture and transplantation with an alginate scaffold

Many studies have been conducted on tissue stem cells in the field of regenerative medicine, and cultured dental pulp mesenchymal cells have been reported to secrete dentin matrix. In the present study we used alginate as a scaffold to transplant subcultured rat dental-pulp-derived cells subcutaneously into the back of nude mice. We found that when beta-glycerophosphate was added to the culture medium, the mRNA of the dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) gene coding dentin sialoprotein (DSP) and dentin phosphoprotein (DPP) was expressed, and an increase in alkaline phosphatase, an early marker of odontoblast differentiation, was also demonstrated. Six weeks after implantation, subcutaneous formation of radiopaque calcified bodies was observed in situ. Immunohistochemical and fine structure studies identified expression of type I collagen, type III collagen, and DSP in the mineralizing transplants, and isolated odontoblast-like cells began to form dentin-like hard tissue formation. Scattered autolyzing apoptotic cells were also observed in the transplants. The study showed that subcultured rat dental-pulp-derived cells actively differentiate into odontoblast-like cells and induce calcification in an alginate scaffold.     

Odontogenic potential of mesenchymal cells from hair follicle dermal papilla

Dental pulp stem cells from teeth can be used for tooth regeneration. Although nondental stem cells derived from bone marrow can differentiate into odontoblast-like cells when recombined with embryonic oral epithelium, these cells can lose their ability to differentiate after an extended number of cell culture passages. There has been limited research to identify stem cells from other tissue sources to regenerate teeth. As another candidate source for mesenchymal stem cells, hair follicle has obtained much more attention recently because of its easy accessibility. In this study, cultured vibrissae follicle dermal papilla mesenchymal cells (FDPMCs) from adult C57BL/6 GFP mice can differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts in vitro. Moreover, in the inductive microenvironment generated by apical bud and dental mesenchyme from 7-day-old C57 mice, FDPMCs in vitro demonstrated odontogenic potential, as indicated by the morphological transformation, cell-cycle change and expression of tooth-specific markers. Under the same microenvironment, FDPMCs were incubated in vivo for 3 weeks. Coexpression of GFP and DSP proteins in the odontoblast layer was detected in the recovered implants, suggesting that GFP(+) FDPMCs can function as odontoblasts in vivo. Together, our data indicate for the first time that whisker FDPMCs from adult mice can differentiate to odontoblast-like cells.     

Human dental pulp cell culture and cell transplantation with an alginate scaffold

Many studies on tissue stem cells have been conducted in the field of regenerative medicine, and some studies have indicated that cultured dental pulp mesenchymal cells secrete dentin matrix. In the present study we used alginate as a scaffold to transplant subcultured human dental pulp cells subcutaneously into the backs of nude mice. We found that when beta-glycerophosphate was added to the culture medium, dentin sialophosphoprotein mRNA coding dentin sialoprotein (DSP) was expressed. An increase in alkaline phosphatase, which is an early marker for odontoblast differentiation, was also demonstrated. At 6 weeks after implantation the subcutaneous formation of radio-opaque calcified bodies was observed in situ. Immunohistochemical and fine structure studies identified expression of type I collagen, type III collagen, and DSP in the mineralizing transplants. Isolated odontoblast-like cells initiated dentin-like hard tissue formation and scattered autolyzing apoptotic cells were also observed in the transplants. The study showed that subcultured dental pulp cells actively differentiate into odontoblast-like cells and induce calcification in an alginate scaffold.     

脂肪组织来源的干细胞的研究进展

来自中胚层的脂肪组织与骨髓组织一样含有大量能自我更新和多向系分化潜能的细胞群称为脂肪干细胞。其取材方便，来源丰富，可在体外稳定增殖传代。并与骨髓间充质干细胞有相似的多向分化表面标志CD105、STRO-1以及CD166受体。研究发现它具有多向系分化潜能，除可以分化为问充质来源的脂肪、骨，软骨、脂肪以及骨骼肌、心肌等细胞，也可诱导分化为来源于外胚层的神经细胞以及具有功能性的血管内皮细胞，用以修复骨、软骨、心肌、骨骼肌、血管以及神经等组织。其具有造血支持作用以及可被逆转录病毒、腺病毒以及慢病毒较高的转染效率等优点，可以作为基因转移良好的靶细胞。因而，脂肪来源的干细胞其有望成为组织工程、细胞治疗以及基因转染良好的种子细胞。