Zinc chloride for odontogenesis of dental pulp stem cells via metallothionein up-regulation.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have shown that zinc chloride (ZnCl(2)) can induce metallthionein (MT) in the liver and kidney to protect tissues against toxicants and shows a better corneal wound healing than conventional drugs do. We hypothesized that ZnCl(2) can promote odontogenesis of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) via MT. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ZnCl(2) on human DPSCs and the expression of MT.


METHODS
DPSCs were isolated by flow cytometry with selective surface marker CD146 and STRO-1. After they grew into confluence, DPSCs were induced into odontoblasts with or without ZnCl(2) supplemented in the culture medium for 21 days. The effect of ZnCl(2) on DPSCs differentiation was examined followed by alkaline phosphatase staining/activity and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis.


RESULTS
By treating DPSCs with ZnCl(2), the duration of mineralization was shortened and expressions of differentiation markers into odontoblasts were more significant than those without ZnCl(2) stimulation. Besides, the MT gene expression was increased with the increasing expressions of odontoblasts' markers after treated with ZnCl(2).


CONCLUSIONS
This was the first report that ZnCl(2) could promote odontoblastic differentiation of DPSCs through the up-regulation of gene MT.
Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Chia-Yung
CY
Lin
Hsin-Hua
HH
Lin
Mong-Hsun
MH
Tsai
Shau-Ping
SP
Lin
Min-Huey
MH
Chen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002712:Chlorides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D012016:Reference Values; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002712:Chlorides; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C016837:zinc chloride; D008668:Metallothionein