Absence of interaction between the 165-kDa fibronectin-binding protein involved in mouse odontoblast differentiation and vinculin

Decellularized Dental Pulp, Extracellular Vesicles, and 5-Azacytidine: A New Tool for Endodontic Regeneration

Dental pulp is a major component of the dental body that serves to maintain the tooth life and function. The aim of the present work was to develop a system that functions as a growth-permissive microenvironment for dental pulp regeneration using a decellularized dental pulp (DDP) matrix, 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-Aza), and Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) derived from human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (hDPSCs). Human dental pulps extracted from healthy teeth, scheduled to be removed for orthodontic purpose, were decellularized and then recellularized with hDPSCs. The hDPSCs were seeded on DDP and maintained under different culture conditions: basal medium (CTRL), EVs, 5-Aza, and EVs+-5-Aza. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analyses were performed to evaluate the proteins’ expression related to dentinogenesis, such as ALP, RUNX2, COL1A1, Vinculin, DMP1, and DSPP. Protein contents found in the DDP recellularized with hDPSCs were highly expressed in samples co-treated with EVs and 5-Aza compared to other culture conditions. This study developed a DDP matrix loaded by hDPSCs in co-treatment with EVs, which might enhance the dentinogenic differentiation with a high potentiality for endodontic regeneration.

Epigenetic signals during odontoblast differentiation

Odontoblast terminal differentiation occurs according to a tooth-specific pattern and implies both temporospatially regulated epigenetic signaling and the expression of specific competence. Differentiation of odontoblasts (withdrawal from the cell cycle, cytological polarization, and secretion of predentin/dentin) is controlled by the inner dental epithelium, and the basement membrane (BM) plays a major role both as a substrate and as a reservoir of paracrine molecules. Cytological differentiation implies changes in the organization of the cytoskeleton and is controlled by cytoskeleton-plasma membrane-extracellular matrix interactions. Fibronectin is re-distributed during odontoblast polarization and interacts with cell-surface molecules. A non-integrin 165-kDa fibronectin-binding protein, transiently expressed by odontoblasts, is involved in microfilament reorganization. Growth factors (TGF beta 1, 2, 3/BMP2, 4, and 6), expressed in tooth germs, signal differentiation. Systemically derived molecules (IGF1) may also intervene. IGF1 stimulates cytological but not functional differentiation of odontoblasts: The two events can thus be separated. Immobilized TGF beta 1 (combined with heparin) induced odontoblast differentiation. Only immobilized TGF beta 1 and 3 or a combination of FGF1 and TGF beta 1 stimulated the differentiation of functional odontoblasts over extended areas and allowed for maintenance of gradients of differentiation. Presentation of active molecules in vitro appeared to be of major importance; the BM should fulfill this role in vivo by immobilizing and spatially presenting TGF beta s. Attempts are being made to investigate the mechanisms which spatially control the initiation of odontoblast differentiation and those which regulate its propagation. Analysis of molar development suggested that odontoblast differentiation and crown morphogenesis are interdependent, although the possibility of co-regulation requires further investigation.

Odontoblast commitment and differentiation

Histological and cytological organization confer specificity to the odontoblasts. These postmitotic, neural crest derived, polarized cells are aligned in a single layer at the periphery of the dental pulp and secrete the organic components of predentin-dentin. The developmental history of these cells demands a cascade of epigenetic signalling events comprising the acquisition of odontogenic potential by neural crest cells, their patterning in the developing jaws, the initiation of odontogenesis through interaction with the oral epithelium, commitment, and tooth-specific spatial distribution of competent preodontoblasts able to overtly differentiate. Recent experimental investigations are critically summarized, many open questions are stressed, and current hypotheses concerning the control of terminal odontoblast differentiation are outlined.Key words: odontoblast, neural crest, oral ectoderm, differentiation.

Effects of a functional agar surface on in vitro dentinogenesis induced in proteolytically isolated, agar-coated dental papillae in rat mandibular incisors

In an attempt to study the effects of a three-dimensional agar surface on in vitro dentinogenesis both in the growing end and in incisally cross-cut pulp, the possible expression of odontoblast phenotype was investigated morphologically, autoradiographically and immunohistochemically. Explants were incubated for 8 days. In the growing end, during the last 4 days, mitotic cells differentiated into [3H]-thymidine-labelled, tubular matrix-forming cells. In cross-cut pulp, however, during the first 4 days, mitotic cells differentiated into [3H]-thymidine-labelled, tubular matrix-forming cells. Electron microscopy demonstrated that, in both regions, tubular matrix-forming cells had characteristics similar to those of primary odontoblasts. When agar was incubated alone, exogenous fibronectin was deposited on it rapidly. After 12 h, endogenous fibronectin appeared on explant peripheral cells. Collagen and materials reacting positively to periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) were first interposed between agar and explant after 4 days. After 8 days, an inner immunonegative layer corresponding to materials reacting positively to PAS or toluidine blue and an outer immunopositive layer of fibronectin or collagen were visible adjacent to the rows of elongated columnar cells. In the presence of Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Pro (GRGDSP), a competitive inhibitor of attachment of cells to fibronectin, explants became detached from the agar surface, and no dentinogenesis occurred. These results indicate that, when in contact with an agar surface that becomes modified by fibronectin and/or by a complex of fibronectin with deposited matrix, dental mesenchymal cells progressively differentiate into tubular matrix-forming cells. Possibly the functional agar surface has the important role of providing a foothold for cell attachment, which is the first step towards in vitro odontoblast differentiation. This system of inducing tubular matrix-forming cells constitutes a useful model for the study of in vitro dentinogenesis.

Spatial distribution of enamel proteins and fibronectin at early stages of rat incisor tooth formation

Enamel proteins are secreted very early during amelogenesis, that is prior to mantle dentine formation, raising the possibility that they may participate in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions taking place during tooth development. These first enamel proteins associate with elements of the basement membrane interposed between the differentiating ameloblasts and odontoblasts. Fibronectin, a component of the basement membrane, is redistributed and accumulates along the apical portion of odontoblasts during their terminal differentiation. In order to determine whether any correlation exists between the redistribution of fibronectin and the secretion of the first enamel proteins, the spatial distribution of these two extracellular matrix proteins was examined during the presecretory stage of amelogenesis. Male Wistar rats were perfused with a formaldehyde-based fixative, and undemineralized and EDTA demineralized incisors were dehydrated in methanol and embedded in Lowicryl K4M resin. Ultrathin tissue sections were then processed for post-embedding, colloidal-gold immunocytochemistry with antibodies to enamel proteins, fibronectin or type III collagen. In the region of ameloblasts facing pulp, labelling for fibronectin was weak and mostly associated with the lamina fibroreticularis of the basement membrane separating differentiating ameloblasts and odontoblasts. As the mantle predentine formed the immunoreaction for fibronectin increased, particularly in the region of the basement membrane. Enamel proteins were also immunodetected in association with the lamina fibroreticularis and gradually accumulated as patches within mantle dentine and at its interface with ameloblasts. Von Korff collagen bundles, present between odontoblasts and in dentine, were immunolabelled for fibronectin and for type III collagen. Patches of granular material, immunoreactive for fibronectin and/or enamel proteins, were found along the odontoblastic processes and cell bodies. Although no evidence was obtained indicating a precise colocalization of fibronectin and enamel proteins, the results confirm that these two proteins can be found within similar extracellular compartments during mantle predentine-dentine formation. These data suggest that enamel proteins, by themselves or synergistically with other proteins, may play a part in the differentiation and/or formative events taking place at the ameloblast-odontoblast interface during the early stages of tooth development.

Immunoelectron-microscopic study of the localization of fibronectin in the odontoblast layer of human teeth

Indirect immunofluorescence-based studies have shown similarities in the distribution patterns of fibronectin-positive fibrous structures and so-called von Korff fibres. The aim of the present study was to analyse the reactivity of fibronectin in the odontoblast layer of fully developed human teeth by means of immunoelectron microscopy. Between the odontoblasts, discrete and undulatory fibrillar fascicles with peroxidase labelling were observed. They seemed to be in contact with odontoblasts in some areas, while in others they appeared to be intervening between two neighbouring odontoblasts. Higher magnifications of the fibrillar material demonstrated axial periodic staining of about 70 nm. Peroxidase reaction of fibronectin was also recognized along the cell membrane of odontoblasts facing predentine. The fibronectin in fibrillar fascicles observed between odontoblasts would be held in place by the direct molecular interaction with collagen fibrils and contribute to the pulpward migration of these cells and maintenance of their specific morphology. At the distal end of odontoblasts, a tight seal would be maintained by means of odontoblast-fibronectin adhesion.

ED-A region-containing isoform of cellular fibronectin is present in dentin matrix in dentinogenesis imperfecta associated with osteogenesis imperfecta

To elucidate the defective dentin formation in osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), we analyzed the expression of selected fibronectin (FN) isoforms in the dentin matrix of a patient with dentinogenesis imperfecta (DI) associated with OI, and in normal teeth. Frozen tooth sections were immunostained with three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). The MAb recognizing the major cell-binding region (f-33), shared by plasma FN (pFN) and cellular FN (cFN), stained the pulp of normal adult permanent teeth intensely, while no reactivity was present in predentin, (demineralized) dentin, or dental cementum. The periodontal ligament stained unevenly. The dentin matrix of the patient with OI displayed reactive zones, alternating layerwise or concentrically with non-reactive ones. Staining throughout the connective tissue of adult oral mucosa, analyzed for the form of FN present, was intense, and in dermis, which was also studied, it was moderate. Reactivities in dental tissues with the MAb specific for the ED-A region (IST-9), included in cFN but not pFN, were similar to those with MAb f-33. The mucosal connective tissue stained weakly and dermis was negative, except that nerves and endothelia of some large blood vessels stained clearly. The MAb specific for the ED-B segment (BC-1), also included in cFN only, did not stain any of the tissues analyzed. The results suggest that, unlike mucosal and dermal FNs, FNs in the dental tissues are largely cellular, and also that dentin formation in OI may be completed by successive generations of pulpal fibroblasts differentiated into hard-tissue-forming cells.