Guobin Yang1, Xiaoyan Li2, Guohua Yuan1, Pingxian Liu1, Mingwen Fan3. 1. The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan. 2. The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan; Department of Endodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Shandong University, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine, Shandong, China. 3. The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan. Electronic address: fmw@whuss.com.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Dental papilla cells (DPCs) are precursors of odontoblasts and have the potential to differentiate into odontoblasts. Osteoblasts and odontoblasts have many common characteristics. Osterix (Osx) is essential for osteoblast differentiation. However, no information is available for the effects of Osx on the odontoblastic differentiation of DPCs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Osx on the proliferation and odontoblastic differentiation of DPCs. METHODS: An immortalized human dental papilla cell (hDPC) line was used. Osx was stably overexpressed or knocked down in hDPCs with infection of lentiviral particles to determine its biological effects on hDPCs. The proliferation of cells was measured by the 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation assay and direct cell counting. Expressions of dentin sialophosphoprotein, nestin, dentin matrix protein 1, and alkaline phosphatase were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction to determine the odontoblastic differentiation of cells. The mineralization ability of cells was evaluated by von Kossa staining and alkaline phosphatase activity assay. RESULTS: Overexpression of Osx retarded the proliferation of hDPCs, whereas knockdown of Osx increased the cell proliferation. Overexpression of Osx promoted the odontoblastic differentiation of hDPCs by up-regulating odontoblastic differentiation genes and increased the mineralization ability of hDPCs. Knockdown of Osx down-regulated odontoblastic differentiation genes and decreased the mineralization ability of hDPCs. CONCLUSIONS: Osx might function as a potential regulator for the proliferation and odontoblastic differentiation of hDPCs.
INTRODUCTION: Dental papilla cells (DPCs) are precursors of odontoblasts and have the potential to differentiate into odontoblasts. Osteoblasts and odontoblasts have many common characteristics. Osterix (Osx) is essential for osteoblast differentiation. However, no information is available for the effects of Osx on the odontoblastic differentiation of DPCs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Osx on the proliferation and odontoblastic differentiation of DPCs. METHODS: An immortalized human dental papilla cell (hDPC) line was used. Osx was stably overexpressed or knocked down in hDPCs with infection of lentiviral particles to determine its biological effects on hDPCs. The proliferation of cells was measured by the 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation assay and direct cell counting. Expressions of dentin sialophosphoprotein, nestin, dentin matrix protein 1, and alkaline phosphatase were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction to determine the odontoblastic differentiation of cells. The mineralization ability of cells was evaluated by von Kossa staining and alkaline phosphatase activity assay. RESULTS: Overexpression of Osxretarded the proliferation of hDPCs, whereas knockdown of Osx increased the cell proliferation. Overexpression of Osx promoted the odontoblastic differentiation of hDPCs by up-regulating odontoblastic differentiation genes and increased the mineralization ability of hDPCs. Knockdown of Osx down-regulated odontoblastic differentiation genes and decreased the mineralization ability of hDPCs. CONCLUSIONS:Osx might function as a potential regulator for the proliferation and odontoblastic differentiation of hDPCs.