Induction of dentin formation on canine amputated pulp by recombinant human bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP)-2 and -4.

Dental pulp cells have the potential to differentiate into odontoblasts. The molecular mechanisms underlying differentiation are not clear. Demineralized dentin matrix is osteoinductive and contains bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) activity. BMPs have been implicated in embryonic odontogenic differentiation and hence may play a role in the differentiation of adult pulp cells into odontoblasts during pulpal healing. This study examined the hypothesis that BMPs induce dentin formation on amputated canine pulp. Recombinant human BMP-2 and BMP-4 were capped with inactivated dentin matrix on amputated pulp. At two months, the amputated pulp was filled with tubular dentin in the lower part and osteodentin in the upper part. The amount of dentin formed was markedly diminished when dentin matrix alone was implanted. These findings imply that recombinant human BMP-2 and BMP-4 induce differentiation of adult pulp cells into odontoblasts. Thus, BMPs may have a role in dentistry as a bioactive pulp-capping agent to induce dentin formation.