The effects of chitosan upon the experimentally induced differentiation of MDPC-23 cells, derived from mouse dental papilla cells, were investigated by RT-PCR, observations of cell morphology and Alizaline red-S staining. Chitosan was found to significantly increase and accelerate the expression of ALP mRNA but decrease the ColI transcript levels, as compared with the control, in a time-dependent manner during the differentiation of MDPC-23 cells. Chitosan also significantly downregulated ON mRNA expression and accelerated mineralization in differentiating MDPC-23 cells. These results suggest that chitosan facilitates odontoblast differentiation and mineralization and may have potential clinical applications as a dentin regeneration material.
Animals ; Chitosan ; Dental Papilla ; Dentin ; Mice ; Odontoblasts ; Regeneration ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the uptake of exosomes by stem cells from apical papilla (SCAP), thus to provide experimental basis for mechanism of the exosomes endocytosis by SCAP. METHODS: (1) Exosomes of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) were isolated by hypercentrifugation combined with ultrafiltration method. The exosomes were identified by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis and western blot. (2) PKH-26 membrane labeling technology was used to mark the DPSCs derived exosomes. The labeled exosomes were co-cultured with SCAP at 37 °C as positive control group, and co-cultured with SCAP at 4 °C as the low-temperature treatment group, while the negative control group was set up. (3) Using clathrin-mediated endocytosis inhibitor chlorpromazine (CPZ, 10 μmol /L) as CPZ group, caveolae-mediated endocytosis Genistein (200 μmol/L) as Genistein group, and macropinocytosis inhibitor LY294002 (50 μmol/L) as LY294002 group to treat the SCAP respectively. Solvent control group (DMSO group) was set. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the red fluorescence SCAP and flow cytometry was used to analyze the proportion of SCAP labeled with red fluorescence. RESULTS: (1) The bilayer membrane and cup-shaped appearance of representative exosomes were observed. The peak of the size of DPSCs-derived exosomes was at 144 nm. The exosomes expressed exosomal marker proteins TSG101 and CD63, but not GAPDH which was the cellular internal control protein. (2) Immunofluorescence staining showed that after being co-cultured at 37 °C for 6 hours, red fluorescence could be detected in SCAP but it could not be detected after being co-cultured at 4 °C for 6 hours. After endocytosis inhibition, the red fluorescence in SCAP was reduced. Flow cytometry showed that the proportion of SCAP labeled with red fluorescence in positive group was 35.0%, in negative control group was 0.5%, and in solvent control group was 29.7%, in CPZ group, Genistein group and Genistein group were reduced to 13.7%, 16.6%, and 20.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION SCAP could uptake the DPSCs derived exosomes, and low temperature could inhibit this process. The exosomes uptake of SCAP was mediated by the clathrin endocytosis pathway, caveolae-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis pathway.
Dental Papilla ; Endocytosis ; Epithelial Cells ; Exosomes ; Stem Cells

PURPOSE: Pink gingival esthetic especially on the anterior teeth has been an important success criterion in implant-supported restoration. Inter-implant papillae are a critical factor for implant esthetics, and various techniques for inter-implant papilla reconstruction have been introduced. The aim of this study is to suggest and evaluate a surgical technique for reconstructing inter-implant papillae. METHODS: A 28-year-old man had an implant placed on the #13 and #14 area. Four months after implant placement, a second stage surgery was planned for inter-implant papilla reconstruction. At the time of the abutment connection, I-type incisions were performed on the #13i & #14i area followed by full-thickness flap elevation and connection of a healing abutment on underlying fixtures without suture. RESULTS: Two weeks after the second stage implant surgery, soft tissue augmentation between the two implants was achieved. CONCLUSIONS: I-shaped incisions for papilla reconstruction performed during the second stage implant surgery were useful for inter-implant papilla reconstruction and showed a good esthetic result.
Adult ; Dental Implants ; Dental Papilla ; Esthetics ; Esthetics, Dental ; Humans ; Sutures ; Tooth

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the soft tissue and bone change around two adjacent implants in one-stage implant surgery. METHODS: Eleven subjects (7 males, 4 females) who were needed placement of 2 adjacent implants in the molar area were included. The two implants were placed with the platform at the level of the alveolar crest. The interproximal bone between the 2 implants was not covered with gingiva. After surgery, an alginate impression was taken to record the gingival shape and radiographs were taken to evaluate implant placement. Using a master cast, the gingival height was measured at baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks. In the radiograph, the alveolar bone level was measured at the mesial and distal side of both implants at baseline and 12 weeks. RESULTS: The exposed bone was covered with gingiva at both 4 and 12 weeks. Loss of alveolar bone around implants was found in all areas. The alveolar bone level in the exposed bone area did not differ from that in the non-exposed area. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the alveolar bone level and gingival height around 2 adjacent implants in the exposed bone area did not differ from that in unexposed bone area.
Alginates ; Alveolar Bone Loss ; Dental Implants ; Dental Papilla ; Gingiva ; Glucuronic Acid ; Hexuronic Acids ; Humans ; Male ; Molar

Dentin is the major part of tooth and formed by odontoblasts. Under the influence of the inner enamel epithelium, odontoblasts differentiate from ectomesenchymal cells of the dental papilla and secrete pre-dentin which then undergo mineralization into dentin. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling is essential for dentinogenesis; however, the precise molecular mechanisms remain unclear. To understand the role of TGF-β/BMP signaling in odontoblast differentiation and dentin formation, we generated mice with conditional ablation of Smad4, a key intracellular mediator of TGF-β/BMP signaling, using Osr2 or OC-Cre mice. Here we found the molars of Osr2(Cre)Smad4 mutant mice exhibited impaired odontoblast differentiation, and normal dentin was replaced by ectopic bone-like structure. In Osr2(Cre)Smad4 mutant mice, cell polarity of odontoblast was lost, and the thickness of crown dentin was decreased in later stage compared to wild type. Moreover, the root dentin was also impaired and showed ectopic bone-like structure similar to Osr2(Cre)Smad4 mutant mice. Taken together, our results suggest that Smad4-dependent TGF-β/BMP signaling plays a critical role in odontoblast differentiation and dentin formation during tooth development.
Animals ; Cell Polarity ; Crowns ; Dental Enamel ; Dental Papilla ; Dentin* ; Dentinogenesis ; Epithelium ; Mice ; Miners ; Molar ; Odontoblasts* ; Tooth

Metformin (1,1-dimethylbiguanide hydrochloride), derived from French lilac (Galega officinalis), is a first-line anti-diabetic drug prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes. However, the role of metformin in odontoblastic cell differentiation is still unclear. This study therefore undertook to examine the effect of metformin on regulating odontoblast differentiation in MDPC-23 mouse odontoblastic cells derived from mouse dental papilla cells. As compared to controls, metformin significantly accelerated the mineralization, significantly increased and accelerated the expressions of ALP and Col I mRNAs, and significantly increased the accelerated expressions of DSPP and DMP-1 mRNAs, during differentiation of MDPC-23 cells. There was no alteration in cell proliferation of MDPC-23 cells, on exposure to metformin. These results suggest that the effect of metformin on MDPC-23 mouse odontoblastic cells derived from mouse dental papilla cells, facilitates the odontoblast differentiation and mineralization, without altering the cell proliferation.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Dental Papilla ; Humans ; Metformin* ; Mice ; Miners ; Odontoblasts* ; RNA, Messenger

Odontoblasts are responsible for the formation and maintenance of dentin which is a mineralized part in dentin-pulp complex of tooth. OD314 was obtained by subtractive hybridization between odontoblasts and osteoblast/dental papilla cells, and differentiatially expressed in the odontoblasts but not in osteoblasts and dental papilla cells. In this study, to better understand the biological function of new odontoblast-enriched gene, OD314, we examined expression of OD314 in cultured MDPC-23 cells and intracellular localization of OD314 protein. We also evaluate the effect of OD314 over-expression and inactivation on the cells by northern analysis. When MDPC-23 cells are cultured in the differentiation and mineralization medium for 28 days, OD314 mRNA expression was gradually increased from the beginning to day 21 and remained relatively high on day 28. Immunofluorescent staining of cultured MDPC-23 revealed localization of OD314 on the cytoplasm, especially near the nuclear membrane. However, a small amount of fluorescence was also observed in the nucleus. Inactivation of OD314 by RNA interference up-regulated the expression of DSPP, whereas over-expression of OD314 by CMV-OD314 plasmid down-regulated the expression of ON. These results suggest that OD314, a odontoblat-enriched gene, may play important roles in the odontoblast differentiation and dentin mineralization.
Cytoplasm ; Dental Papilla ; Dentin ; Fluorescence ; Nuclear Envelope ; Odontoblasts* ; Osteoblasts ; Plasmids ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; Tooth

Odontogenic Myxoma of the jaws is a rare benign tumor derived from embryonic mesenchymal elements of dental anlage. It appears to originate from the dental papilla, follicle or periodontal ligament. Odontogenic Myxoma of the maxilla is less frequent but behaves more aggressively than that of the mandible, because it spreads through the maxillary sinus. Radiographically, the tumors present as unilocular or multilocular radiolucent lesions with well-defined borders with fine, bony trabeculae. On gross examination, the tumor appears as a smooth, glistening, gelatinous, lobulated mass. On microscopic examination, these neoplasms exhibit loose arrangement of stellate-shaped cells. The intercellular substance is a mucinous and homogeneous matrix. We report a case of odontogenic myxoma of the maxilla observed in our clinic with good prognosis after partial maxillectomy.
Dental Papilla ; Gelatin ; Jaw ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Maxillary Sinus ; Mucins ; Myxoma ; Periodontal Ligament ; Prognosis

The odontogenic myxoma is an infiltrative benign tumor of bone that occurs almost exclusively in the jaw bones and comprises 3% to 6% of odontogenic tumors. This neoplasm is thought to arise from the primitive mesenchymal structures of a developing tooth, including the dental follicle, dental papilla, or periodontal ligament. Radiographically the odontogenic myxoma may produce several patterns: unicystic, multilocular, pericoronal, and radiolucent-radiopaque, making the differential diagnosis difficult. In this report, two cases of the odontogenic myxoma in the jaw bones are presented. The first case involved only the mandible, while the second case involved the maxilla. Both cases presented extensive multilocular radiolucencies characteristic of odontogenic myxoma.
Dental Papilla ; Dental Sac ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Jaw ; Jaw Neoplasms ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Myxoma* ; Odontogenic Tumors ; Periodontal Ligament ; Tooth

Bone tissue engineering is one of the important therapeutic approaches to the regeneration of bones in the entire field of regeneration medicine. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are actively discussed as material for bone tissue engineering due to their ability to differentiate into autologous bone. MSCs are able to differentiate into different lineages: osteo/odontogenic, adipogenic, and neurogenic. The tissue of origin for MSCs defines them as bone marrow-derived stem cells, adipose tissue-derived stem cells, and, among many others, dental stem cells. According to the tissue of origin, DSCs are further stratified into dental pulp stem cells, periodontal ligament stem cells, stem cells from apical papilla, stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth, dental follicle precursor cells, and dental papilla cells. There are numerous in vitro/in vivo reports suggesting successful mineralization potential or osteo/odontogenic ability of MSCs. Still, there is further need for the optimization of MSCs-based tissue engineering methods, and the introduction of genes related to osteo/odontogenic differentiation into MSCs might aid in the process. In this review, articles that reported enhanced osteo/odontogenic differentiation with gene introduction into MSCs will be discussed to provide a background for successful bone tissue engineering using MSCs with artificially introduced genes.
Adult ; Bone and Bones ; Cell Differentiation ; Dental Papilla ; Dental Pulp ; Dental Sac ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Odontoblasts ; Osteoblasts ; Periodontal Ligament ; Regeneration ; Stem Cells ; Tissue Engineering ; Tooth, Deciduous ; Transfection