Effect of erythropoietin on angiogenic potential of dental pulp cells

Effects of direct pulp capping with recombinant human erythropoietin and/or mineral trioxide aggregate on inflamed rat dental pulp

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the dental pulp responses to recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) and/or mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) in pulp capping of inflamed dental pulp in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In accordance with ARRIVE guidelines, pulp inflammation was induced by exposing the maxillary first molars (n = 64) of Wistar rats (n = 32) to the oral environment for two days. The exposed pulps were randomly assigned four groups based on the pulp capping material: rhEPO, MTA, MTA + rhEPO, or an inert membrane. An additional eight rats formed the healthy control group. After four weeks, the animals were euthanized, and histological, qRT-PCR, and spectrophotometric techniques were employed to analyze the left maxillary segments, right first maxillary molars, and blood samples, respectively. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 and < 0.001.

RESULTS

Pulp capping with rhEPO, MTA, or MTA + rhEPO resulted in lower inflammation and higher mineralization scores compared to untreated control. MTA + rhEPO group exhibited significantly decreased expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin 1-beta, while MTA group showed substantially reduced expression of interferon-gamma. Both rhEPO and MTA + rhEPO groups presented elevated dentin matrix protein 1 levels compared to untreated control. Furthermore, pulp capping with rhEPO and/or MTA led to increased transforming growth factor-beta 1 expression and reductions of pro-inflammatory/immunoregulatory cytokine ratios and prooxidative markers. Pulp capping with rhEPO also resulted in increase of systemic antioxidative stress markers.

CONCLUSION

Capping with rhEPO or MTA + rhEPO resulted in a favorable effect that was similar or even superior to that of MTA.

Erythropoietin induces odontoblastic differentiation of human-derived pulp stem cells via EphB4-Mediated MAPK signaling pathway

OBJECTIVES

Human-derived pulp stem cells play key roles during dentinogenesis. Erythropoietin is reportedly involved in osteoblastogenesis and facilitates bone formation. However, the mechanism is still unknown. This research was to study the potential of erythropoietin in enhancing odontoblastic differentiation of human-derived pulp stem cells and to determine the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

The human-derived pulp stem cells were treated with erythropoietin, EphB4 inhibitor, and MAPK inhibitors, and the odontoblastic differentiation was measured by ALP staining, ALP activity assay, alizarin red S staining, and their quantitative analysis, and RT-qPCR of DSPP, DMP1, OCN, and RUNX2. The direct pulp capping model was established to evaluate the formation of tertiary dentin after treatment with erythropoietin. Western blot assay was conducted to assess relevant protein expressions in the phosphorylated EphB4 and MAPK pathway.

RESULTS

The results showed that erythropoietin promoted odontoblastic differentiation of human-derived pulp stem cells at 20 U/ml. Erythropoietin induced tertiary dentin formation in vivo. The potential mechanism of this was upregulating phosphorylated EphB4 and phosphorylated MAPK; furthermore, this effect could be decreased by EphB4 inhibitors, which inhibited MAPK phosphorylation. Blockage of MAPK pathways attenuated human-derived pulp stem cells' odontoblastic differentiation, suggesting that MAPK pathways are involved.

CONCLUSION

Erythropoietin induced tertiary dentin formation in vivo. And erythropoietin enhanced human-derived pulp stem cells' odontoblastic differentiation via the EphB4-mediated MAPK signaling pathway.

Erythropoietin Activates Autophagy to Regulate Apoptosis and Angiogenesis of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells via the Akt/ERK1/2/BAD Signaling Pathway under Inflammatory Microenvironment

Background. Angiogenic tissue engineering is a vital problem waiting to be settled for periodontal regeneration. Erythropoietin, a multieffect cytokine, has been reported as a protective factor for cell fate. According to our previous study, erythropoietin has a significantly angiogenic effect on periodontal ligament stem cells. To further explore its potential effects and mechanism, we studied biological behaviors of periodontal ligament stem cells under inflammatory microenvironment induced by different concentrations (0, 10, 20, 50, and 100 ng/mL) of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and examined how different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20, and 50 IU/mL) of erythropoietin changed biological behaviors of periodontal ligament stem cells. Materials and Methods. Cell Counting Kit-8 was used for cell proliferation assay. Annexin V-PI-FITC was used for cell apoptosis through flow cytometry. Matrigel plug was adopted to measure the angiogenic capacity in vitro. RNA sequencing was used to detect the downstream signaling pathway. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was conducted to examine mRNA expression level. Western blot and immunofluorescence were applied to testify the protein expression level. Results. Periodontal ligament stem cells upregulated apoptosis and suppressed autophagy and angiogenesis under inflammatory microenvironment. Erythropoietin could activate autophagy to rescue apoptosis and angiogenesis levels of periodontal ligament stem cells through the Akt/Erk1/2/BAD signaling pathway under inflammatory microenvironment. Conclusions. Erythropoietin could protect periodontal ligament stem cells from inflammatory microenvironment, which provided a novel theory for periodontal regeneration.

Pulpal expression of erythropoietin and erythropoietin receptor after direct pulp capping in rat

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of direct pulp capping on the expression of erythropoietin (Epo) and Epo-receptor (Epor) genes in relation to the expression of inflammatory and osteogenic genes in rat pulp. Dental pulps of the first maxillary molars of Wistar Albino rats were exposed and capped with either calcium hydroxide or mineral trioxide aggregate, or were left untreated. After 4 wk, animals were euthanized, and maxillae were prepared for histological and real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Histological scores of pulp inflammation and mineralization, and relative expressions of Epo, Epor, inflammatory cytokines, and pulp osteogenic genes were evaluated. The capped pulps showed higher expressions of Epo, while the untreated pulps had the highest expression of Epor. Both calcium hydroxide and mineral trioxide aggregate downregulated the expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha compared to untreated controls, and upregulated transforming growth factor beta compared to healthy controls. Alkaline phosphatase expression was significantly higher in experimental groups. Relative expression of Epo negatively correlated with pulp inflammation, and positively correlated with pulp mineralization. Pulp exposure promoted expression of Epor and pro-inflammatory cytokines, while pulp capping promoted expression of Epo, alkaline phosphatase, and downregulated Epor and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Erythropoietin in Optic Neuropathies: Current Future Strategies for Optic Nerve Protection and Repair

Erythropoietin (EPO) is known as a hormone for erythropoiesis in response to anemia and hypoxia. However, the effect of EPO is not only limited to hematopoietic tissue. Several studies have highlighted the neuroprotective function of EPO in extra-hematopoietic tissues, especially the retina. EPO could interact with its heterodimer receptor (EPOR/βcR) to exert its anti-apoptosis, anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation effects in preventing retinal ganglion cells death through different intracellular signaling pathways. In this review, we summarized the available pre-clinical studies of EPO in treating glaucomatous optic neuropathy, optic neuritis, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and traumatic optic neuropathy. In addition, we explore the future strategies of EPO for optic nerve protection and repair, including advances in EPO derivates, and EPO deliveries. These strategies will lead to a new chapter in the treatment of optic neuropathy.