[The roles of Notch2-Delta signaling in the differentiation of long-term cultured human dental pulp cells].
OBJECTIVE
To study the roles of the Notch2-Delta signaling in the differentiation of dental pulp cells into odontoblasts in vitro.


METHODS
A long-term culture system was used as a model for the study of proliferation and differentiation of pulp cells into preodontoblasts. The expression patterns of Notch2 and its ligand Delta in different phases of long-term cultured dental pulp cells were studied by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Furthermore, the effects of rhBMP-2 on the expression of Notch signaling members were studied.


RESULTS
Notch2 and its ligand Delta expressed in all phases of dental pulp cells and the sites and levels of their expression changed with different phases. rhBMP-2 could significantly up-regulated the expression of Delta in the phase of later cell nodule formation.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that Notch signaling pathway played roles in the differentiation of long-term cultured human dental pulp cells which formed nudules that were slightly mineralized and had ultrastructural features reminiscient of preodontoblasts, and it may be the mechanism that control pulpal cell's responsiveness to signaling molecules in the healing of wound pulp.
He
Fei
F
Department of Stomatology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
Tan
Yinghui
Y
Yang
Zhengrong
Z
D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051883:Receptor, Notch2; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
C525718:BMP2 protein, human; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C497764:NOTCH2 protein, human; D051883:Receptor, Notch2; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C064045:delta protein; C499469:recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2