Aim To explore the proliferation, adhesion and differentiation response and the underlying mechanisms that occur in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflamed dental pulp cells (DPCs) in contact with Biodentine and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). Methodology The DPCs were isolated from three healthy donors and named DPC-H1 to DPC-H3. The DPCs were pre-cultured with 2 or 5 lg mL À1 LPS for 24 h to induce inflammation. The expression of inflammation marker miR-146a was detected by q-PCR. The normal and LPS-induced DPCs were further treated with 0.14 mg mL À1 Biodentine or 0.13 mg mL À1 MTA for 24 h. MTT assay and adhesion assay were used to analyse the changes of cell phenotypes. DSPP, AKT and ERK expressions were detected by Western blotting. The data were analysed by Mann-Whitney test or two-way ANOVA. Differences were considered statistically significant when P < 0.05. Results In LPS-induced DPCs, Biodentine and MTA treatment neither induced nor aggravated LPS-