Changes of mitochondrial respiratory function during odontogenic differentiation of rat dental papilla cells

Abstract

Dental papilla cells (DPCs) belong to precursor cells differentiating to odontoblasts and play an important role in dentin formation and reproduction. This study aimed to explore the changes and and involvement of mitochondrial respiratory function during odontogenic differentiation. Primary DPCs were obtained from first molar dental papilla of neonatal rats and cultured in odontogenic medium for 7, 14, 21 days. DPCs, which expressed mesenchymal surface markers CD29, CD44 and CD90, had the capacity for self-renewal and multipotent differentiation. Odontoblastic induction increased mineralized matrix formation in a time-dependent manner, which was accompanied by elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP), dentin sialophosphoprotein and dentin matrix protein 1 expression at mRNA and protein levels. Notably, odontogenic medium led to an increase in adenosine-5'-triphosphate content and mitochondrial membrane potential, whereas a decrease in intercellular reactive oxygen species production and NAD/NADH ratio. Furthermore, odontogenic differentiation was significantly suppressed by treatment with rotenone, an inhibitor of mitochondrial respiratory chain. These results demonstrate that enhanced mitochondrial function is crucial for odontogenic differentiation of DPCs.

Melatonin‐mediated malic enzyme 2 orchestrates mitochondrial fusion and respiratory functions to promote odontoblastic differentiation during tooth development

“…Evidence suggests that mitochondria are critical signaling organelles that dictate stem cell fate and regulate stem cell differentiation through ROS generation, TCA cycle metabolite production, NAD + /NADH ratio regulation, pyruvate metabolism, and mitochondrial dynamics. 21,[40][41][42] Our previous studies established that MT promotes mitochondrial respiratory functions 6,15,43 and enhances mitochondrial biogenesis during odontoblastic differentiation. 15 Here, we reveal that mitochondrial fusion is indispensable for MTmediated odontoblastic differentiation, consistent with previous reports that knockdown of MFN2 impairs the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells, 44 and that loss of MFN2/OPA1 in embryonic stem cells impairs their differentiation.…”

Methylation of Cdkn1c may be involved in the regulation of tooth development through cell cycle inhibition

“…There are five stages of tooth development: thickening stage, bud stage, cap stage, bell stage, and secretory stage (Tucker and Sharpe 2004 ; Zhang et al 2018 ). In the Balb/c model, first molars at P1 and P3 were at the late bell stage, and at P5 and P7 were at the secretory stage (Fig.…”

Expression of nitric oxide synthases in rat odontoblasts and the role of nitric oxide in odontoblastic differentiation of rat dental papilla cells

“…Procedures for primary DPCs cultures were previously described (Liu, Zhou, et al., 2013; Zhang et al., 2018). Briefly, the dental papilla was isolated from the first molar of P1 rats, minced into small pieces, and then plated in 10‐cm dishes.…”