Endothelial cells and endothelin‑1 promote the odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells

Abstract

It has been established that dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) serve an important role in the restoration and regeneration of dental tissues. DPSCs are present in blood vessels and also exist in the vessel microenvironment in vivo and have a close association with endothelial cells (ECs). The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of ECs and their secretory product endothelin-1 (ET-1) on the differentiation of DPSCs. In the present study, cells were divided into four groups: i) a DPSC-only control group; ii) a DPSC with ET-1 administration group; iii) a DPSC and human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) direct co-culture group; and iv) a DPSC and HUVEC indirect co-culture group using a Transwell system. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of the odontoblastic differentiation-associated genes, including dentin sialoprotein (DSP) and dentin matrix acidic phosphoprotein 1 (DMP-1) at days 4, 7, 14 and 21. Alizarin Red S staining, immunofluorescence and western blot analyses were also conducted to assess the differentiation of the DPSCs in each group. The highest expression levels of odontoblastic differentiation-associated genes were observed on day 7 and in the two co-culture groups were increased compared with the DPSC-only and DPSC + ET-1 culture groups at all four time points. However, expression levels in the DPSC + ET-1 group were not downregulated as notably as in the co-culture groups on days 14 and 21. The Transwell group exhibited the greatest ability for odontoblastic differentiation compared with the other groups according to staining with Alizarin Red S, immunofluorescence and western blot analysis results. According to the results of the present study, the culture solution with HUVECs affected the differentiation of DPSCs. In addition, ET-1 may promote the odontoblastic differentiation of DPSCs.

Incremental Growth Lines in Mouse Molar Dentin Represent 8-hr Ultradian Rhythm

“…This was also supported by previous reports, which suggested that ultradian locomotor activity oscillations persisted in rodents housed in DD, even upon ablation of SCN [8] or genetic disruption of the circadian clocks [3]. An 8-hr ultradian rhythm was also observed in circulating endothelin-1 (ET-1) in human blood [6], and a study using dental pulp stem cells suggested that ET-1 promotes odontogenic differentiation [12], suggesting that Representative fluorescent microscopic images from mice housed in LD and administrated with tetracycline each week (for 4 weeks) at 1~4 (A) or 5~8 (B) weeks of age. Three fluorescent bands in crown dentin can be observed in panel (A), and no labels can be observed in panel (B), respectively.…”

Dental stem cells: The role of biomaterials and scaffolds in developing novel therapeutic strategies

“…The application of combined DSCs with the ECM scaffold can be used for root canal therapy. It has been shown that DSCs are able to differentiate into functional odontoblasts with angiogenic potential[ 110 ]. Implantation of a 3D scaffold by shaping sheet-like aggregates of DSCs with a thermos-responsive hydrogel into the human tooth root canal generates pulp-like tissues with rich neovascularization without adding growth factors[ 111 ].…”

Chitlac-Coated Thermosets Enhance Osteogenesis and Angiogenesis in a Co-culture of Dental Pulp Stem Cells and Endothelial Cells

“…DPSCs exist in the vessel microenvironment in-vivo and have a close association with endothelial cells, which were proved to regulate the development of dentine/pulp tissue [12]. Dissanayaka et al [13] directly co-cultured HUVEC and DPSCs, reporting that endothelial cells may improve the osteo-odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs.…”