Potential Application of Human β-Defensin 4 in Dental Pulp Repair

When pulp tissue is damaged by caries or trauma, vital pulp therapy (VPT) can help preserve the pulp tissue for long-term retention of teeth. However, the choice of pulp capping agent used in VPT is important for the successful preservation of the pulp tissue. Here we investigated the expression and...

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Main Authors: Yue Zhai, Xiaojing Yuan, Yuming Zhao, Lihong Ge, Yuanyuan Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Physiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2020.01077/full
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author Yue Zhai
Xiaojing Yuan
Yuming Zhao
Lihong Ge
Yuanyuan Wang
author_facet Yue Zhai
Xiaojing Yuan
Yuming Zhao
Lihong Ge
Yuanyuan Wang
author_sort Yue Zhai
collection DOAJ
description When pulp tissue is damaged by caries or trauma, vital pulp therapy (VPT) can help preserve the pulp tissue for long-term retention of teeth. However, the choice of pulp capping agent used in VPT is important for the successful preservation of the pulp tissue. Here we investigated the expression and biological function of human β-defensin 4 (HBD4) in dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) and explored its potential as a pulp capping agent. We examined the expression of HBD4 in DPSC in vitro using qPCR and immunofluorescence staining. We also looked at the effect of HBD4 on inflammatory factors in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated DPSC, and its effects on mineralizing cell phenotype differentiation, via qPCR and western blot. Finally, we examined the ability of HBD4 to promote the restoration of the pulp-dentin complex in vivo, using male Wistar rats with reversible pulpitis. We found HBD4 was highly expressed in DPSC stimulated by TNF-α and IL-1α. HBD4 down-regulated the expression of inflammatory mediators (i.e., IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) in LPS-stimulated DPSC, and suppressed MAPK activity and the NF-κB pathway. HBD4 also enhanced the differentiation of DPSC into osteoblasts or odontoblasts, potentially by modulating the Notch pathway. Furthermore, HBD4 controlled the degree of pulp inflammation in a rat model of reversible pulpitis and induced the formation of restorative dentin. Together our findings indicate HBD4 may be a useful pulp capping agent for use in VPT.
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spelling doaj.art-1738cd2b98d74335a068c823f85170542022-12-21T17:59:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2020-08-011110.3389/fphys.2020.01077566453Potential Application of Human β-Defensin 4 in Dental Pulp RepairYue ZhaiXiaojing YuanYuming ZhaoLihong GeYuanyuan WangWhen pulp tissue is damaged by caries or trauma, vital pulp therapy (VPT) can help preserve the pulp tissue for long-term retention of teeth. However, the choice of pulp capping agent used in VPT is important for the successful preservation of the pulp tissue. Here we investigated the expression and biological function of human β-defensin 4 (HBD4) in dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) and explored its potential as a pulp capping agent. We examined the expression of HBD4 in DPSC in vitro using qPCR and immunofluorescence staining. We also looked at the effect of HBD4 on inflammatory factors in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated DPSC, and its effects on mineralizing cell phenotype differentiation, via qPCR and western blot. Finally, we examined the ability of HBD4 to promote the restoration of the pulp-dentin complex in vivo, using male Wistar rats with reversible pulpitis. We found HBD4 was highly expressed in DPSC stimulated by TNF-α and IL-1α. HBD4 down-regulated the expression of inflammatory mediators (i.e., IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) in LPS-stimulated DPSC, and suppressed MAPK activity and the NF-κB pathway. HBD4 also enhanced the differentiation of DPSC into osteoblasts or odontoblasts, potentially by modulating the Notch pathway. Furthermore, HBD4 controlled the degree of pulp inflammation in a rat model of reversible pulpitis and induced the formation of restorative dentin. Together our findings indicate HBD4 may be a useful pulp capping agent for use in VPT.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2020.01077/fullhuman β-defensin 4dental pulp stem cellsanti-inflammatorystem cell differentiationvital pulp therapy
spellingShingle Yue Zhai
Xiaojing Yuan
Yuming Zhao
Lihong Ge
Yuanyuan Wang
Potential Application of Human β-Defensin 4 in Dental Pulp Repair
Frontiers in Physiology
human β-defensin 4
dental pulp stem cells
anti-inflammatory
stem cell differentiation
vital pulp therapy
title Potential Application of Human β-Defensin 4 in Dental Pulp Repair
title_full Potential Application of Human β-Defensin 4 in Dental Pulp Repair
title_fullStr Potential Application of Human β-Defensin 4 in Dental Pulp Repair
title_full_unstemmed Potential Application of Human β-Defensin 4 in Dental Pulp Repair
title_short Potential Application of Human β-Defensin 4 in Dental Pulp Repair
title_sort potential application of human β defensin 4 in dental pulp repair
topic human β-defensin 4
dental pulp stem cells
anti-inflammatory
stem cell differentiation
vital pulp therapy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2020.01077/full
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AT yumingzhao potentialapplicationofhumanbdefensin4indentalpulprepair
AT lihongge potentialapplicationofhumanbdefensin4indentalpulprepair
AT yuanyuanwang potentialapplicationofhumanbdefensin4indentalpulprepair