Dentin Sialophosphoprotein Expression in Engineered Dental Pulp-like Tissue

Objectives: Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) have been isolated and characterized as multipotent cells. However, it is still unknown whether SHED can generate a dental pulp-like tissue including odontoblasts in vivo. The purpose of this study was to quantify dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) mRNA of a pulp-like tissue engineered with SHED. Methods: SHED and human dermal microvascular endothelial cells were seeded in biodegradable scaffolds prepared within human tooth slices and implanted subcutaneously in immunodeficient mice. After 14 and 28 days, the slices were retrieved and processed for formaldehyde-fixed, formic acid-demineralized paraffin-sections. The most peripheral and central parts of the tissue engineered in the pulp chamber were microdissected with a laser capture dissection microscope. Then, real-time PCR analysis of DSPP mRNA expression was performed. Results: The level of DSPP mRNA expression was higher in the most peripheral part, as compared with the central part of the engineered pulp-like tissue. Conclusions: These results suggested that SHED are able to differentiate into cells with the property of odontoblasts.