Dental Pulp Cells Conditioning Through Poly(I:C) Activation of Toll-Like Receptor 3 (TLR3) for Amplification of Trophic Factors

INTRODUCTION

Regeneration of the pulp-dentin complex hinges on functionally diverse growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, signaling molecules, and other secreted factors collectively referred to as trophic factors. Delivery of exogenous factors and induced release of endogenous dentin-bound factors by conditioning agents have been explored towards these goals. The aim of this study was to investigate a promising regeneration strategy based on the conditioning of dental pulp cells (DPCs) with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly(I:C)] for amplification of endogenous trophic factors.

METHODS

DPCs were isolated from human dental pulps, propagated in culture, and treated with an optimized dose of poly(I:C). MTT assay and metabolite analysis were conducted to monitor the cytotoxicity of poly(I:C). ELISA and qPCR assays were performed to quantify induction of trophic factors in response to DPC conditioning. Statistical significance was P < .05.

RESULTS

Analysis of 32 trophic factors involved in Wnt signaling, cell migration and chemotaxis, cell proliferation and differentiation, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and angiogenesis, and immunoregulation revealed that DPCs abundantly express many trophic factors including AMF, BDNF, BMP2, FGF1, FGF2, FGF5, HGF, MCP1, NGF, SDF1, TGFβ1, TIMP1, TIMP2, TIMP3, and VEGF-A, many of which were further induced by DPC conditioning; induction, which was significant for BDNF, EGF, HGF, LIF, MCP1, SDF1, IL6, IL11, MMP9 and TIMP1. Both DPCs proliferation and lactate production (P < .05) were inhibited by 8 μg/ml poly(I:C) relative to the control.

CONCLUSIONS

In vitro DPC conditioning through poly(I:C) activation of TLR3 led to amplification of trophic factors involved in tissue repair. The strategy offers promise for endodontic regeneration and tooth repair and warrants further investigation.

Cytotoxic effects of various mineral trioxide aggregate formulations, calcium-enriched mixture and a new cement on human pulp stem cells

INTRODUCTION

This in vitro study compared the cytotoxic effects of three commercially available MTA formulations naming ProRoot MTA (PMTA), Angelus MTA (AMTA), and Root MTA (RMTA), with calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement and a new nanohybrid MTA (NMTA) on human dental pulp stem cells (DPSC).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Four disc-shaped specimens of each material were prepared. After completion of setting, 2 different (neat and 1/2) elutes of the test materials were made. Then in each cavity of a 96-well plate, 3000 cells were seeded and incubated in a humidified incubator with 5% CO2 and 95% air at 37(°)C for 24 h. After this period, the culture medium of each well was replaced with 200 μL of test material elutes. Plain culture medium was used as the negative control and distilled water as the positive control group. Cell viability was assessed using 2, 5-diphenyl-SH-tetrazelium bromide colorimetric assay, aka Mosmann's tetrazolium toxicity (MTT) assay, at three time intervals (24, 48, and 72 h after mixing). Data were analyzed using the ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test (P=0.05).

RESULTS

After 24 h, the viability of cells in neat concentration had no significant differences (P>0.05) except for the NMTA. However, CEM and AMTA, at 1/2 concentration exerted significant proliferative effects on cells. At 48 and 72-h intervals, significant proliferation of DPSCs was seen in all samples, except for the NMTA which exerted toxic effects on cells.

CONCLUSION

All of the three commercial MTAs and CEM cement showed comparative biocompatibility. However, NMTA had cytotoxic effects on DPSCs at all the time intervals.