Expression of heat shock protein 27 in adult human third molar dental pulp.
This study is the first to define the expression of hsp 27 in the pulp of the adult human third molar. Using a monoclonal antibody against human hsp 27, immunoreactivity was demonstrated in the odontoblasts, odontoblast processes, pulp fibroblasts, and smooth muscle and endothelial cells of vessel walls. Nerves were negative. Pulp fibroblasts were characterized by cytoplasmic staining and variable nuclear staining. Odontoblasts also displayed consistent cytoplasmic staining and variable nuclear staining. Western, Northern, and RT-PCR analysis confirmed the expression of hsp 27 mRNA and protein. Hsp 27 was also shown to be present in both the unphosphorylated and phosphorylated isoforms. In general, nuclear localization and phosphorylation of hsp 27 has been correlated with cells responding to stress or other stimuli. This study demonstrates that pulp from a single human third molar provides sufficient material to support a detailed molecular analysis of gene expression.
Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, Department of Pathology, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506, USA.
D A
DA
Sens
J P
JP
McGuirt
W
W
Khan
J H
JH
Todd
R M
RM
Howell
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger