Abstract
Melatonin regulates a variety of biological processes, which are the control of circadian rhythms, regulation of seasonal reproductive function and body temperature, free radical scavenging and so on. Our previous studies have shown that various cells exist in human and mouse tooth germs that express the melatonin 1a receptor (Mel1aR). However, little is known about the effects of melatonin on tooth development and growth. The present study was performed to examine the possibility that melatonin might exert its influence on tooth development. DP-805 cells, a human dental papilla cell line, were shown to express Mel1aR. Expression levels of mRNA for Mel1aR in DP-805 cells increased until 3 days after reaching confluence and decreased thereafter. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that melatonin increased the expression of mRNAs for osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OCN), bone sialoprotein (BSP), dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP-1) and dentin sialophosphoprotin (DSPP). Melatonin also enhanced the mineralized matrix formation in DP-805 cell cultures in a dose-dependent manner. These results strongly suggest that melatonin may play a physiological role in tooth development/growth by regulating the cellular function of odontogenic cells in tooth germs.
Highlights
Melatonin, a hormone synthesized and secreted from the pineal gland mainly at night, was isolated and purified from the bovine pineal gland by Lerner et al [1]
To examine whether melatonin 1a receptor (Mel1aR) is expressed in human and rat tooth germs, immunohistochemical analyses for Mel1aR were performed. These analyses revealed that the ectomesenchymal cells in the human tooth germs, i.e., the odontoblasts and the dental papilla cells, were positive for Mel1aR (Figure 1B(a–c))
Using quantitative real-time room temperature (RT)-PCR, we examined the effects of melatonin on the expressions of mRNA for odontogenic makers, i.e., osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OCN), bone sialoprotein (BSP), dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP-1) and dentin sialophosphoprotin (DSPP) in DP-805 cells treated with various concentrations (0, 1, 10, 50, 100 and 200 μM) of melatonin
Summary
A hormone synthesized and secreted from the pineal gland mainly at night, was isolated and purified from the bovine pineal gland by Lerner et al [1]. Its secretion is controlled by the light:dark cycle in such a manner that it is released in large amounts during the night, but only minimally during the day [2,3] This hormone was shown to be synthesized by other tissues, such as retina [4], lens [5], ovarium [6], intestine [7] and salivary glands [8]. The expression level of mRNA for Mel1aR in HAT-7 cells, a rat odontogenic epithelial cell line, increased after reaching confluence in vitro. These results suggest that melatonin has some effect on tooth formation/growth [31]. To examine whether melatonin is involved in human tooth development, in the present study we investigated the effects of melatonin on proliferation and differentiation of a human dental papilla cell line, DP-805
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