Treatment of Periodontal Bone Defects with Stem Cells from Inflammatory Dental Pulp Tissues in Miniature Swine

BACKGROUND: Containing a certain proportion of mesenchymal stem cells, inflammatory dental tissue showed great tissue regeneration potential in recent years. However, whether it is applicable to promote tissue regeneration in vivo remains to be elucidated. Therefore, we evaluated the feasibility of stem cells from inflammatory dental pulp tissues (DPSCs-IPs) to reconstruct periodontal defects in miniature pigs. METHODS: The autologous pig DPSCs-IPs were first cultured, appraised and loaded onto β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). The compounds were then engrafted into an artificially-created periodontal defect. Three months later, the extent of periodontal regeneration was evaluated. Clinical examination, radiological examination and immunohistochemical staining were used to assess periodontal regeneration. RESULTS: The data collectively showed that DPSCs-IPs from miniature pigs expressed moderate to high levels of STRO-1 and CD146 as well as low levels of CD34 and CD45. DPSCs-IPs have osteogentic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation abilities. DPSCs-IPs were engrafted onto β-TCP and regenerated bone to repair periodontal defects by 3 months' post-surgical reconstruction. CONCLUSION: Autologous DPSCs-IPs may be a feasible means of periodontal regeneration in miniature pigs.

Locations of TLR4 in healthy dental pulp tissue and dental pulp tissue affected by deep caries / 口腔疾病防治

Objective@#To analyze the role of TLR4 in innate immune response of dental pulp by comparing the locations and expressions of TLR4 in healthy dental pulp tissue and dental pulp tissue affected by deep caries. @*Methods @# Healthy teeth and teeth affected by deep caries were demineralized and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) to observe the morphology of dental pulp. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed to observe the expressions of TLR4.@*Results @# Observed under HE staining, dentin tubules of teeth affected by deep caries were damaged with a lot bacteria mass. The expression of TLR4 were located in the odontoblast layer and near the blood vessels in both groups. Positive staining of TLR4 in deep caries pulps (2.10±0.74) were significantly higher than that in healthy teeth (1.25 ±0.46). @*Conclusion @#Expression of TLR4 in deep caries pulp is stronger than that in healthy pulp. It suggests that TLR4 may play a role in the innate immune response of deep caries.