Abstract
Direct pulp capping is an effective treatment for preserving dental pulp against carious or traumatic pulp exposure via the formation of protective reparative dentin by odontoblast-like cells. Reparative dentin formation can be stimulated by several signaling molecules; therefore, we investigated the effects of secreted frizzled-related protein (SFRP) 1 that was reported to be strongly expressed in odontoblasts of newborn molar tooth germs on odontoblastic differentiation and reparative dentin formation. In developing rat incisors, cells in the dental pulp, cervical loop, and inner enamel epithelium, as well as ameloblasts and preodontoblasts, weakly expressed Sfrp1; however, Sfrp1 was strongly expressed in mature odontoblasts. Human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) showed stronger expression of SFRP1 compared with periodontal ligament cells and gingival cells. SFRP1 knockdown in hDPCs abolished calcium chloride-induced mineralized nodule formation and odontoblast-related gene expression and decreased BMP-2 gene expression. Conversely, SFRP1 stimulation enhanced nodule formation and expression of BMP-2. Direct pulp capping treatment with SFRP1 induced the formation of a considerable amount of reparative dentin that has a structure similar to primary dentin. Our results indicate that SFRP1 is crucial for dentinogenesis and is important in promoting reparative dentin formation in response to injury.
Highlights
The tooth is composed of four different types of dental tissue: enamel, dentin, cementum, and pulp
While primary dentin is formed by odontoblasts and reparative dentin is produced by odontoblast-like cells [10], these cells have similar characteristics: they are derived from mesenchymal stem cells or progenitor cells in the dental pulp and their primary function is the secretion of dentin during dentinogenesis
Based on the ability of SFRP1 to promote odontoblastic differentiation of Human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) in vitro, we aimed to evaluate its effects on the formation of reparative dentin and the preservation of pulp integrity using the in vivo direct pulp capping treatment model
Summary
The tooth is composed of four different types of dental tissue: enamel, dentin, cementum, and pulp. All of these tissues are calcified except for the pulp, which contains connective tissues, blood vessels, and nerves. Connective tissues in the pulp are loose and highly specialized, and show specific responses to trauma and microbial insults [1]. Blood vessels in the pulp provide nutrients and oxygen, regulate the immune response, and remove unnecessary substances [2]. The main function of nerves in the pulp is sensory; they support pulp defense by promoting the extravasation of immune cells [3]. The pulp is considered to play essential roles in tooth maintenance and homeostasis
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