Odontoblast and dentin thermal sensitivity

PIEZO1 Promotes Odontoblast-Mediated Reactionary Dentinogenesis via SEMA3A

Located at the interface of the dentin-pulp complex, the odontoblasts are specialized cells responsible for dentin synthesis and nociceptive signal detection in response to external stimuli. Recent studies have shown that the mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO1 is involved in bone formation and remodeling through the influx of calcium ions, and it is abundantly expressed in odontoblasts. However, the specific role of PIEZO1 in reactionary dentinogenesis and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we found intense PIEZO1 expression in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm of odontoblasts in healthy human third molars, mouse mandibular molars, and human odontoblast-like cells (hOBLCs). In hOBLCs, PIEZO1 positively regulated DSPP, DMP1, and COL1A1 expression through the Ca2+/PI3K-Akt/SEMA3A signaling pathway. In addition, exogenous SEMA3A supplementation effectively reversed reduced mineralization capacity in PIEZO1-knockdown hOBLCs. In vivo, Piezo1 expression peaked at day 7 and returned to baseline at day 21 in a wild-type mice dentin injury model, with Sema3a presenting a similar expression pattern. To investigate the specific role of PIEZO1 in odontoblast-mediated reactionary dentinogenesis, mice with a conditional knockout of Piezo1 in odontoblasts were generated, and no significant differences in teeth phenotypes were observed between the control and conditional knockout (cKO) mice. Nevertheless, cKO mice exhibited reduced reactionary dentin formation and decreased Sema3a and Dsp positive staining after dentin injury, indicating impaired dental pulp repair by odontoblasts. In summary, these findings suggest that PIEZO1 enhances the mineralization capacity of hOBLCs in vitro via the Ca2+/PI3K-Akt/SEMA3A signaling pathway and contributes to reactionary dentinogenesis in vivo.

Dentin Mechanobiology: Bridging the Gap between Architecture and Function

It is remarkable how teeth maintain their healthy condition under exceptionally high levels of mechanical loading. This suggests the presence of inherent mechanical adaptation mechanisms within their structure to counter constant stress. Dentin, situated between enamel and pulp, plays a crucial role in mechanically supporting tooth function. Its intermediate stiffness and viscoelastic properties, attributed to its mineralized, nanofibrous extracellular matrix, provide flexibility, strength, and rigidity, enabling it to withstand mechanical loading without fracturing. Moreover, dentin's unique architectural features, such as odontoblast processes within dentinal tubules and spatial compartmentalization between odontoblasts in dentin and sensory neurons in pulp, contribute to a distinctive sensory perception of external stimuli while acting as a defensive barrier for the dentin-pulp complex. Since dentin's architecture governs its functions in nociception and repair in response to mechanical stimuli, understanding dentin mechanobiology is crucial for developing treatments for pain management in dentin-associated diseases and dentin-pulp regeneration. This review discusses how dentin's physical features regulate mechano-sensing, focusing on mechano-sensitive ion channels. Additionally, we explore advanced in vitro platforms that mimic dentin's physical features, providing deeper insights into fundamental mechanobiological phenomena and laying the groundwork for effective mechano-therapeutic strategies for dentinal diseases.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Regulates the TRPA1 Expression in Human Odontoblast-Like Cells

Purpose

Transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily A, member 1 (TRPA1) is a promiscuous chemical nociceptor involved in the perception of cold hypersensitivity, mechanical hyperalgesia and inflammatory pain in human odontoblasts (HODs). Here, we aimed to study the underlying mechanism in which inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α regulated the expression of TRPA1 channel at both cellular and subcellular levels.

Materials and Methods

Immunohistochemistry was used to confirm the expression of TRPA1 channel in HODs. Dental pulp cells were induced and differentiated to HOD-like cells and used in succedent experiments. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay and Western blotting were used to examine the expression changes of TRPA1 channel with the presence and absence of TNF-α and TNF receptor (TNFR) inhibitor, R 7050. Finally, immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) and quantitative analysis were performed to directly display the TNF-α-regulated distribution change of TRPA1 channel in HOD-like cells.

Results

TRPA1 channel was positively expressed in the cell bodies and processes of HODs. The expression TRPA1 channel was significantly up-regulated by high concentration of TNF-α, which could be suppressed by R 7050. Under IEM, TNF-α treatment could increase the expression of TRPA1 in the ER membrane, cytoplasm and mitochondria.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that TRPA1 expression in HOD-like cells was evidently upregulated by TNF-α, presumably via TNFR1. TNF-α induced significant increasement in the intracellular distributions of TRPA1 proteins, with increases in the cytoplasm, ER membrane, and mitochondria, to actively participate in noxious external stimuli perception and transduction of hyperalgesia.

Ion Channels Involved in Tooth Pain

The tooth has an unusual sensory system that converts external stimuli predominantly into pain, yet its sensory afferents in teeth demonstrate cytochemical properties of non-nociceptive neurons. This review summarizes the recent knowledge underlying this paradoxical nociception, with a focus on the ion channels involved in tooth pain. The expression of temperature-sensitive ion channels has been extensively investigated because thermal stimulation often evokes tooth pain. However, temperature-sensitive ion channels cannot explain the sudden intense tooth pain evoked by innocuous temperatures or light air puffs, leading to the hydrodynamic theory emphasizing the microfluidic movement within the dentinal tubules for detection by mechanosensitive ion channels. Several mechanosensitive ion channels expressed in dental sensory systems have been suggested as key players in the hydrodynamic theory, and TRPM7, which is abundant in the odontoblasts, and recently discovered PIEZO receptors are promising candidates. Several ligand-gated ion channels and voltage-gated ion channels expressed in dental primary afferent neurons have been discussed in relation to their potential contribution to tooth pain. In addition, in recent years, there has been growing interest in the potential sensory role of odontoblasts; thus, the expression of ion channels in odontoblasts and their potential relation to tooth pain is also reviewed.

Expression and distribution of three transient receptor potential vanilloid(TRPV) channel proteins in human odontoblast-like cells

Odontoblasts have been suggested to contribute to nociceptive sensation in the tooth via expression of the transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. The TRP channels as a family of nonselective cation permeable channels play an important role in sensory transduction of human. In this study, we examined the expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1), transient receptor potential vanilloid-2 (TRPV2) and transient receptor potential vanilloid-3 (TRPV3) channels in native human odontoblasts (HODs) and long-term cultured human dental pulp cells with odontoblast phenotyoe (LHOPs) obtained from healthy wisdom teeth with the use of immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR),western blotting (WB) and immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) assay. LHOPs samples were made into ultrathin sections, mounted on nickel grids, floated of three TRPV antibodies conjugated with 10 nm colloidal gold particles and observed under IEM at 60,000 magnifications. The relative intracellular distributions of these three channels were analyzed quantitatively on IEM images using a robust sampling, stereological estimation and statistical evaluation method. The results of IHC and IF convinced that TRPV1, TRPV2 and TRPV3 channels were expressed in native HODs and (LHOPs). The result of qRT-PCR and WB confirmed that the gene and protein expression of TRPV1, TRPV2, and TRPV3 channels and TRPV1 mRNA are more abundantly expressed than TRPV2 and TRPV3 in HODs (P < 0.05). Quantitative analysis of IEM images showed that the relative intracellular distributions of these three channels are similar, and TRPV1, TRPV2 and TRPV3 proteins were preferential labeled in human odontoblast processes, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, HODs could play an important role in mediating pulp thermo-sensation due to the expression of these three TRPV channels. The difference of relative intracellular distributions of three channels suggests that special structures such as processes may have an important role to sensing of the outer stimuli first.

Intercellular signal communication among odontoblasts and trigeminal ganglion neurons via glutamate

Various stimuli to the exposed surface of dentin induce changes in the hydrodynamic force inside the dentinal tubules resulting in dentinal pain. Recent evidences indicate that mechano-sensor channels, such as the transient receptor potential channels, in odontoblasts receive these hydrodynamic forces and trigger the release of ATP to the pulpal neurons, to generate dentinal pain. A recent study, however, has shown that odontoblasts also express glutamate receptors (GluRs). This implies that cells in the dental pulp tissue have the ability to release glutamate, which acts as a functional intercellular mediator to establish inter-odontoblast and odontoblast-trigeminal ganglion (TG) neuron signal communication. To investigate the intercellular signal communication, we applied mechanical stimulation to odontoblasts and measured the intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i). During mechanical stimulation in the presence of extracellular Ca²⁺, we observed a transient [Ca²⁺]_i increase not only in single stimulated odontoblasts, but also in adjacent odontoblasts. We could not observe these responses in the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺. [Ca²⁺]_i increases in the neighboring odontoblasts during mechanical stimulation of single odontoblasts were inhibited by antagonists of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) as well as glutamate-permeable anion channels. In the odontoblast-TG neuron coculture, we observed an increase in [Ca²⁺]_i in the stimulated odontoblasts and TG neurons, in response to direct mechanical stimulation of single odontoblasts. These [Ca²⁺]_i increases in the neighboring TG neurons were inhibited by antagonists for mGluRs. The [Ca²⁺]_i increases in the stimulated odontoblasts were also inhibited by mGluRs antagonists. We further confirmed that the odontoblasts express group I, II, and III mGluRs. However, we could not record any currents evoked from odontoblasts near the mechanically stimulated odontoblast, with or without extracellular Mg²⁺, indicating that N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptor does not contribute to inter-odontoblast signal communication. The results suggest that a mechanically stimulated odontoblast is capable of releasing glutamate into the extracellular space via glutamate-permeable anion channels. The released glutamate activates mGluRs on the odontoblasts in an autocrine/paracrine manner, forming an inter-odontoblasts communication, which drives dentin formation via odontoblast-odontoblast signal communication. Glutamate and mGluRs also mediate neurotransmission between the odontoblasts and neurons in the dental pulp to modulate sensory signal transmission for dentinal sensitivity.

Single-cell RT-PCR and immunocytochemical detection of mechanosensitive transient receptor potential channels in acutely isolated rat odontoblasts

OBJECTIVE

Hydrostatic force applied to tooth pulp has long been suspected to be the direct cause of dental pain. However, the molecular and cellular identity of the transducer of the mechanical force in teeth is not clear. Growing number of literatures suggested that odontoblasts, secondary to its primary role as formation of tooth structure, might function as a cellular mechanical transducer in teeth.

DESIGN

In order to determine whether odontoblasts could play a crucial role in transduction of hydrostatic force applied to dental pulp into electrical impulses, current study investigated the expression of stretch-activated transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in acutely isolated odontoblasts from adult rats by single cell reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemical analysis.

RESULTS

As the result, expression of TRPM7 (melastatin 7) was observed in majority (87%) of odontoblasts while mRNAs for TRPC1 (canonical 1), TRPC6 (canonical 6) and TRPV4 (vanilloid 4) were detected in small subpopulations of odontoblasts. TRPM3 (melastatin 3) was not detected in our experimental set-up. Immunocytochemical analysis further revealed TRPM7 expression at protein level.

CONCLUSION

Expression of the mechanosensitive TRP channels provides additional evidence that supports the sensory roles of odontoblasts. Given that TRPM7 is a mechanosensitive ion channel with a kinase activity that plays a role in Mg(2+) homeostasis, it is possible that TRPM7 expressed in odontoblasts might play a central role in mineralization during dentin formation.

Odontoblasts as sensory receptors: transient receptor potential channels, pannexin-1, and ionotropic ATP receptors mediate intercellular odontoblast-neuron signal transduction

Various stimuli induce pain when applied to the surface of exposed dentin. However, the mechanisms underlying dentinal pain remain unclear. We investigated intercellular signal transduction between odontoblasts and trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons following direct mechanical stimulation of odontoblasts. Mechanical stimulation of single odontoblasts increased the intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) by activating the mechanosensitive-transient receptor potential (TRP) channels TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV4, and TRPA1, but not TRPM8 channels. In cocultures of odontoblasts and TG neurons, increases in [Ca(2+)]i were observed not only in mechanically stimulated odontoblasts, but also in neighboring odontoblasts and TG neurons. These increases in [Ca(2+)]i were abolished in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+) and in the presence of mechanosensitive TRP channel antagonists. A pannexin-1 (ATP-permeable channel) inhibitor and ATP-degrading enzyme abolished the increases in [Ca(2+)]i in neighboring odontoblasts and TG neurons, but not in the stimulated odontoblasts. G-protein-coupled P2Y nucleotide receptor antagonists also inhibited the increases in [Ca(2+)]i. An ionotropic ATP (P2X3) receptor antagonist inhibited the increase in [Ca(2+)]i in neighboring TG neurons, but not in stimulated or neighboring odontoblasts. During mechanical stimulation of single odontoblasts, a connexin-43 blocker did not have any effects on the [Ca(2+)]i responses observed in any of the cells. These results indicate that ATP, released from mechanically stimulated odontoblasts via pannexin-1 in response to TRP channel activation, transmits a signal to P2X3 receptors on TG neurons. We suggest that odontoblasts are sensory receptor cells and that ATP released from odontoblasts functions as a neurotransmitter in the sensory transduction sequence for dentinal pain.

TGF-β1 sensitizes TRPV1 through Cdk5 signaling in odontoblast-like cells

Background

Odontoblasts are specialized cells that form dentin and they are believed to be sensors for tooth pain. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), a pro-inflammatory cytokine expressed early in odontoblasts, plays an important role in the immune response during tooth inflammation and infection. TGF-β1 is also known to participate in pain signaling by regulating cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) in nociceptive neurons of the trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia. However, the precise role of TGF-β1 in tooth pain signaling is not well characterized. The aim of our present study was to determine whether or not in odontoblasts Cdk5 is functionally active, if it is regulated by TGF-β1, and if it affects the downstream pain receptor, transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1).

Results

We first determined that Cdk5 and p35 are indeed expressed in an odontoblast-enriched primary preparation from murine teeth. For the subsequent analysis, we used an odontoblast-like cell line (MDPC-23) and found that Cdk5 is functionally active in these cells and its kinase activity is upregulated during cell differentiation. We found that TGF-β1 treatment potentiated Cdk5 kinase activity in undifferentiated MDPC-23 cells. SB431542, a specific inhibitor of TGF-β1 receptor 1 (Tgfbr1), when co-administered with TGF-β1, blocked the induction of Cdk5 activity. TGF-β1 treatment also activated the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, causing an increase in early growth response-1 (Egr-1), a transcription factor that induces p35 expression. In MDPC-23 cells transfected with TRPV1, Cdk5-mediated phosphorylation of TRPV1 at threonine-407 was significantly increased after TGF-β1 treatment. In contrast, SB431542 co-treatment blocked TRPV1 phosphorylation. Moreover, TGF-β1 treatment enhanced both proton- and capsaicin-induced Ca²⁺ influx in TRPV1-expressing MDPC-23 cells, while co-treatment with either SB431542 or roscovitine blocked this effect.

Conclusions

Cdk5 and p35 are expressed in a murine odontoblast-enriched primary preparation of cells from teeth. Cdk5 is also functionally active in odontoblast-like MDPC-23 cells. TGF-β1 sensitizes TRPV1 through Cdk5 signaling in MDPC-23 cells, suggesting the direct involvement of odontoblasts and Cdk5 in dental nociceptive pain transduction.