Expression of Mineralization Markers in Dental Pulp Cells

Xi Wei, MS, MDS,* Junqi Ling, PhD,* Liping Wu, MS,* Lu Liu, MD,* and Yin Xiao, PhD†

Abstract

There is an increasing interest in the utility of dental pulp

stem cells (DPSCs) for dentin regeneration. The mechanisms

involved in DPSC differentiation remain poorly understood.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the

mineralization capacity of human dental pulp cells (DPCs)

and identify potential markers for odontoblast differentiation.

The isolated DPCs expressed mesenchymal stemcell

markers as shown by flow cytometry and could differentiate

in vitro into odontogenic, adipogenic, and

chondrogenic lineages. Alkaline phosphatase activity of

DPCs elevated over time, with significant upregulation on

day 21 in odontogenic induction. Quantitative RT-PCR

revealed that osteocalcin, dentin sialophosphoprotein

(DSPP), and matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein

(MEPE) expression also increased time dependently in the

induction cultures. In conclusion, we isolated DPCs with

stem cell characteristics. MEPE and DSPP showed a similar

regulatory pattern of DPCs mineralization. MEPE along

with DSPP may be potential odontogenetic differentiation

markers. (J Endod 2007;33:703–708)

牙髓细胞矿化标志物的表达