IADR Abstract Archives

The in vitro molecular regulation of Pulp Stem Cell Chemotaxis

Objectives: Tooth pulp-dentin tissue regeneration following injury, infection, and inflammation requires pulp stem cell chemotaxis. Pulp regeneration is often problematic and controversial; this may be partly due to the lack of data on the molecular regulation of pulp stem cells (PSC). The objective of this study is to investigate the molecular regulation of PSC chemotaxis.

Methods: Protein activation during PSC migration was examined using the Transwell chamber technique. PSCs were grown in culture after being explanted from human tooth pulp tissues. The PSC were released by trypsinization, and plated on chemotactic inserts on filters of 8 ƒÝm pore diameter. Filters were coated with recombinant Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF), Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) or the platelet derived bioactive lipid: Sphingosine 1-Phosphate (S1P). Fluorescent antibodies to Rac and Rho-kinase were used to determine if PSC migration was polarized. Each treatment was replicated 10 times with 5 million cells. The data was analyzed with Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistics.

Results: S1P induced more vigorous PSC chemotaxis in comparison with the other FGF or EFG treatments (ANOVA, P< 0.0001). The migrating cells stained with Rac at the leading edge and Rho-kinase at the posterior.

Conclusion: PSC chemotaxis is mediated by a Rac/Rho-kinase equilibrium and differs in response to various growth factors. This project provides the basic information needed to develop drugs to regulate PSC activity and improve tissue regeneration following injury.


Continental European and Scandinavian Divisions Meeting
2005 Continental European and Scandinavian Divisions Meeting (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
2005
117
Scientific Program
  • Murray, Peter Emslie  ( Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA )
  • English, Denis  ( Methodist Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN, USA )
  • Garcia-godoy, Franklin  ( Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA )
    • Poster Session
    Pulp Biology
    09/15/2005