• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.20.1-20.13
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• 2023

This mini-review was conducted to present an overview of the use of exosomes in regenerating the dentin-pulp complex (DPC). The PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for relevant articles published between January 1, 2013 and January 1, 2023. The findings of basic in vitro studies indicated that exosomes enhance the proliferation and migration of mesenchymal cells, as human dental pulp stem cells, via mitogen-activated protein kinases and Wingless-Int signaling pathways. In addition, they possess proangiogenic potential and contribute to neovascularization and capillary tube formation by promoting endothelial cell proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Likewise, they regulate the migration and differentiation of Schwann cells, facilitate the conversion of M1 pro-inflammatory macrophages to M2 anti-inflammatory phenotypes, and mediate immune suppression as they promote regulatory T cell conversion. Basic in vivo studies have indicated that exosomes triggered the regeneration of dentin-pulp-like tissue, and exosomes isolated under odontogenic circumstances are particularly strong inducers of tissue regeneration and stem cell differentiation. Exosomes are a promising regenerative tool for DPC in cases of small pulp exposure or for whole-pulp tissue regeneration.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 1991

The purpose of the present study was to measure and compare the arachidonic acid metabolites in diseased periodontal tissue and vital pulp tissue of the tooth, and to investigate the relationship between periodontal and pulp disease. Diseased periodontal tissue of periodontally involved human teeth and vital pulp tissue from the same teeth which were intact with no periapical lesions were obtained. Each periodontal and pulp tissue homogenates from the same tooth were incubated with $^{14}C$ - arachidonic acid. Lipid solvent extracts were separated by thin layer chromatography to be analyzed by autoradiography and TLC analyzer. 1. The conversion into $TXB_2$, 6 - keto - $PGF_{1a}$ and $PGE_2$, and unidentified metabolite in pulp tissue were less than that in diseased periodontal tissue(P<0.05). 2. Biosynthetic levels of $TXB_2$, unidentified metabolite, 6 - keto - $PGF_{1a}$ and HETEs were not satistically significant between diseased periodontal tissue and pulp tissue. $LTB_4$ was measured highly in pulp tissue(P<0.1). 3. The percentage of each metabolite to the total converted metabolites were not statistically significant between diseased periodontal tissue and pulp tissue. But the percentage of $LTB_4$ in pulp tissue was higher than that in diseased periodontal tissue(P<0.05). 4. The relative amounts of the total metabolites formed in lipoxygenase pathway to those formed in cyclo - oxygenase pathway were 6 fold in diseased periodontal tissue and 12 fold in pulp tissue. But there was no statistical significance between diseased periodontal tissue and pulp tissue(P>0.05).

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.415-423
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to investigate the response of human pulp cell on Portland cement mixed with $\beta$-glycerophosphate. To investigate the effect of $\beta$-glycerophosphate and/or dexamethasone on human pulp cell, ALP activity on various concentration of $\beta$-glycerophosphate and dexamethasone was measured and mineral nodule of human pulp cell was stained with Alizarin red S. MTS assay and ALP activity of human pulp cell on Portland cement mixed with various concentration of $\beta$-glycerophosphate (10 mM, 100mM, 1M) was measured and the specimens were examined under SEM. Addition of $\beta$-glycerophosphate or dexamethasone alone had no effect however, the addition of 5 mM $\beta$-glycerophosphate and 100 nM dexamethasone had the largest increasement in ALP activity. There was no toxicity in all samples and the data showed that Portland cement mixed with 10 mM $\beta$-glycerophosphate had more increase in ALP activity compared with control. In conclusion, Portland cement mixed with $\beta$-glycerophosphate has no toxicity and promotes differentiation and mineralization of pulp cell compared with additive-free Portland cement. This implicated that application of Portland cement mixed with $\beta$-glycerophosphate might form more reparative dentin and in turn it would bring direct pulp capping to success.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.217-225
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• 2020

Background: This study was performed to provide a long-term bacterial seal through the formation of reparative dentin bridge, calcium silicate-based pulp capping materials have been used at sites of pulpal exposure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mineralization-inducing potentials of calcium silicate-based pulp capping materials (ProRoot MTA [PR], Biodentine [BD], and TheraCal LC [TC]) in human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). Methods: Specimens of test materials were placed in deionized water for various incubation times to measure the pH variation and the concentration of calcium released. The morphology of HDPCs cultured on the specimens was examined using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Alizarin red S staining and alkaline phosphatase assays were used to evaluate mineralization-inducing potentials of the capping materials. Results: BD showed the highest calcium release in all test periods, followed by PR and TC. (p<0.05). All experimental groups showed high alkalinity after 1 day, except at 14 days. BD showed the highest cell viability compared with PR and TC after 1 and 3 days, while TC showed the lowest value (p<0.05). The CLSM analysis showed that cells were well adhered and expressed actin filaments for all pulp capping materials. Mineralization by PR and BD groups was higher than that by TC group based on alizarin red S staining. BD showed significantly higher alkaline phosphatase activity than PR and TC, while TC showed the lowest value (p<0.05). Conclusion: Within the limitations of the in vitro study, BD had higher mineralization-inducing potential than PR and TC.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.360-365
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• 2010

Introduction: Mammalian tooth pulp is densely innervated by sensory nerves that are mostly C fibers and A delta fibers. However, there is evidence suggesting that many unmyelinated axons in the pulp are in fact parent meylinated axons. Immunohistochemical staining for neurofilament protein 200 kDa (NFP200) was performed to identify the demyelinated but parent myelinated axons. Materials and Methods: The pulp was removed from healthy premolars and 3rd molars extracted from juveniles and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment, and immunohistochemical staining were applied with NPF200 antibodies, which specifically dye myelinated axons. The specimens underwent an electron microscopy examination with diaminobenzidine (DAB) immunostaining after observation and analysis by fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Results: The NPF200 immuno-positive axons in the radicular pulp areas were observed as bundles of many nerve fibers. Many small bundles were formed with fewer axons when firing to the coronal pulp areas and then reachrd a different direction. In the radicular pulp, unmyelinated axons and myelinated axons were present together. However, in the coronal pulp, unmyelinated axons were most common and NFP200 immuno-positive unmyelinated axons with a larger diameter than those in the radicular pulp were observed more frequently. On the other hand, most of the immuno-positive unmyelinated fibers were similar in size to that of typically well-known unmyelinated fibers. Conclusion: Myelinated fibers innervated to the dental pulp maintain their myelins in the radicular portion, but these fibers lost myelins in the coronal portion. After the loss of myelin, the size of the axoplasm also decreased.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2012

Dlx3 and Dlx5 are homeobox domain proteins and are well-known regulators of osteoblastic differentiation. Since possible reciprocal relationships between osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells exist, we examined the regulatory role of Dlx3 and Dlx5 on adipogenic differentiation using human dental pulp stem cells. Over-expression of Dlx3 and Dlx5 stimulated osteogenic differentiation but inhibited adipogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells. Dlx3 and Dlx5 suppressed the expression of adipogenic marker genes such as $C/EBP{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\gamma}$, aP2 and lipoprotein lipase. Adipogenic stimuli suppressed the mRNA levels of Dlx3 and Dlx5, whereas osteogenic stimuli enhanced the expression of Dlx3 and Dlx5 in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. These results suggest that Dlx3 and Dlx5 exert a stimulatory effect on osteogenic differentiation of stem cells through the inhibition of adipogenic differentiation as well as direct stimulation.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.167-173
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• 2012

This study investigated the genes involved in the differentiation of odontoblasts derived from human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). hDPSCs isolated from human tooth pulp were validated by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). After odontogenic induction, hDPSCs were analyzed investigated by Alizaline red-S staining, ALP assay, ALP staining and RT-PCR. Differential display-polymerase chain reaction (DD-PCR) was performed to screen differentially expressed genes involved in the differentiation of hDPSCs. By FACS analysis, the stem cell markers CD24 and CD44 were found to be highly expressed in hDPSCs. When hDPSCs were treated with agents such as ${\beta}$-glycerophosphate (${\beta}$-GP) and ascorbic acid (AA), nodule formation was exhibited within six weeks. The ALP activity of hDPSCs was found to elevate over time, with a detectable up-regulation at 14 days after odontogenic induction. RT-PCR analysis revealed that dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and osteocalcin (OC) expression had increased in a time-dependent manner in the induction culture. Through the use of DD-PCR, several genes were differentially detected following the odontogenic induction. These results suggest that these genes may possibly be linked to a variety of cellular process during odontogenesis. Furthermore, the characterization of these regulated genes during odontogenic induction will likely provide valuable new insights into the functions of odontoblasts.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2018

There exists very little information on the ultrastructure of substance P immunopositive (+) fibers in the human dental pulp, which may help in understanding the mechanism for substance P associated pulpal inflammatory pain. To address this issue, we investigated the presence of substance P+ fibers in the human dental pulp by light- and electron-microscopic immunohistochemistry. Light microscopy revealed that substance P+ fibers ran within neurovascular bundles in the radicular pulp and in the core of coronal pulp. They were also frequently present in the peripheral pulp. Substance P+ fibers showed beads like swellings interconnected by thin axonal strand, in a manner similar to bouton en passants and interconnecting axonal strand in the spinal cord. Electron microscopy revealed that almost all the substance P+ axons were unmyelinated. The axonal swellings of the substance P+ contained numerous clear round vesicles (40-50 nm in diameter) and many large dense-cored vesicles (80-110 nm in diameter) as well as many mitochondria. The vesicles and mitochondria were rarely observed in the thin axonal strand interconnecting the swellings. Intimate interrelationship or synaptic structure between the swellings of substance P+ axon and nearby pulpal cells or axons was not found. These findings suggest co-release of substance P and glutamate from the substance P+ pulpal axons and its action on nearby structures in a paracrine manner.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.227-233
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to evaluate human dental pulp response to pulpotomy with calcium hydroxide (CH), mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), and calcium enriched mixture (CEM) cement. Materials and Methods: A total of nine erupted third molars were randomly assigned to each pulpotomy group. The same clinician performed full pulpotomies and coronal restorations. The patients were followed clinically for six months; the teeth were then extracted and prepared for histological assessments. The samples were blindly assessed by an independent observer for pulp vitality, pulp inflammation, and calcified bridge formation. Results: All patients were free of clinical signs/symptoms of pulpal/periradicular diseases during the follow up period. In CH group, one tooth had necrotic radicular pulp; other two teeth in this group had vital uninflamed pulps with complete dentinal bridge formation. In CEM cement and MTA groups all teeth had vital uninflamed radicular pulps. A complete dentinal bridge was formed beneath CEM cement and MTA in all roots. Odontoblast-like cells were present beneath CEM cement and MTA in all samples. Conclusions: This study revealed that CEM cement and MTA were reliable endodontic biomaterials in full pulpotomy treatment. In contrast, the human dental pulp response to CH might be unpredictable.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 1978

This experimental study was made to investigate the effect of the "Hi-Pol" composite resin on the human dental pulp. 38 cavities of healthy permanent teeth were divided into 5 groups which were used as experimental materials. Group 1: Zinc Oxide-Euginol paste was applied to the cavities as controls $\cdots\;\cdots8$ cases Group 2: "Hi-Pol"*filling with Dycal** base $\cdots\;\cdots9$ cases Group 3: "Hi-Pol" filling without Dycal base $\cdots\;\cdots9$ cases Groud 4: Adaptic*** filling with Dycal base $\cdots\;\cdots6$ cases Group 5: Adaptic filling without Dycal base $\cdots\;\cdots6$ cases The treated teeth were extracted after 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks and processed for histological study. The results obtained from this experimental study were as follows; 1. The controls applied zinc oxide-eugenol showed the minimal pulp response and group 3 and group 5 showed the most severe pulp response. 2. In group 3 and group 5, the severity of pulp response increased in intensity according to the time elapsed. 3. In group 2 and group 4, the mild pulp response was found in earlier stage and the repairing process could be observed in later stage. * Boo-Pyung Co., Korea ** L. D. Caulk Co., Milford, Del. 19963 *** Johnson and Johnson Co., New Brunswick, NJ 08903.