ABSTRACT
Dentin, which composes most of the tooth structure, is formed by odontoblasts, long-lived post-mitotic cells maintained throughout the entire life of the tooth. In mature odontoblasts, however, cellular activity is significantly weakened. Therefore, it is important to augment the cellular activity of mature odontoblasts to regenerate physiological dentin; however, no molecule regulating the cellular activity of mature odontoblasts has yet been identified. Here, we suggest that copine-7 (CPNE7) can reactivate the lost functions of mature odontoblasts by inducing autophagy. CPNE7 was observed to elevate the expression of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3-II (LC3-II), an autophagy marker, and autophagosome formation in the pre-odontoblast and mature odontoblast stages of human dental pulp cells. CPNE7-induced autophagy upregulated DSP and DMP-1, odontoblast differentiation and mineralization markers, and augmented dentin formation in mature odontoblasts. Furthermore, CPNE7 also upregulated NESTIN and TAU, which are expressed in the physiological odontoblast process, and stimulated the elongation of the odontoblast process by inducing autophagy. Moreover, lipofuscin, which progressively accumulates in long-lived post-mitotic cells and hinders their proper functions, was observed to be removed in recombinant CPNE7-treated mature odontoblasts. Thus, CPNE7-induced autophagy reactivated the function of mature odontoblasts and promoted the formation of physiological dentin in vivo. On the other hand, the well-known autophagy inducer, rapamycin, promoted odontoblast differentiation in pre-odontoblasts but did not properly reactivate the function of mature odontoblasts. These findings provide evidence that CPNE7 functionally reactivates mature odontoblasts and introduce its potential for dentinal loss-targeted clinical applications.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study conducted an analysis of cost-effectiveness of the implant and conventional fixed dental prosthesis (CFDP) from a single treatment perspective. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Markov model for cost-effectiveness analysis of the implant and CFDP was carried out over maximum 50 years. The probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed by the 10,000 Monte-Carlo simulations, and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves (CEAC) were also presented. The results from meta-analysis studies were used to determine the survival rates and complication rates of the implant and CFDP. Data regarding the cost of each treatment method were collected from University Dental Hospital and Statistics Korea for 2013. Using the results of the patient satisfaction survey study, quality-adjusted prosthesis year (QAPY) of the implant and CFDP strategy was evaluated with annual discount rate. RESULTS: When only the direct cost was considered, implants were more cost-effective when the willingness to pay (WTP) was more than 10,000 won at 10(th) year after the treatment, and more cost-effective regardless of the WTP from 20(th) year after the prosthodontic treatment. When the indirect cost was added to the direct cost, implants were more cost-effective only when the WTP was more than 75,000 won at the 10(th) year after the prosthodontic treatment, more than 35,000 won at the 20(th) year after prosthodontic treatment. CONCLUSION: The CFDP was more cost-effective unless the WTP was more than 75,000 won at the 10(th) year after prosthodontic treatment. But the cost-effectivenss tendency changed from CFDP to implant as time passed.
ABSTRACT
Stem cells are unspecialised cells that can divide, renew, and differentiate into more specialised cells. Due to their unique properties, stem cells are known for their use in therapies and treatments for missing tissues and damaged parts of the body. However, due to the invasive nature and other ethical issues with the retrieval process and usage of stem cells, stem cells are clinically being used in a limited manner. Furthermore, due to the invasive nature of the retrieval process elsewhere, dental tissues are one of the most preferred sources for stem cells. This review covers all of the characteristics of dental tissue-derived stem cells and their potential future uses.
