title: Alteration of microRNA expression of human dental pulp cells during odontogenic differentiation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play momentous roles in various biological processes including cell differentiation. However, little is known about the role of miRNAs in human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) during odontogenic differentiation. The aims of this study were to investigate the expression of miRNAs in the primary culture of hDPCs when incubated in odontogenic medium.
  
  
  METHODS
  The potential characteristics of hDPCs were investigated by miRNA microarray and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Bioinformatics (ie, target prediction, Gene Ontology analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes mapping tools) were applied for predicting the complementary target genes of miRNAs and their biological functions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 22 miRNAs were differentially expressed in which 12 miRNAs up-regulated and 10 miRNAs down-regulated in differentiated hDPCs compared with the control. The target genes of differential miRNAs were predicted to associate with several biological functions and signaling pathways including the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the Wnt signaling pathway.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The differential expression miRNAs may be involved in governing hDPC odontogenic differentiation, thus contributing to the future investigations of regulatory mechanisms in reparative dentin formation and dental pulp regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Guanghua School of Stomatology and Institute of Stomatological Research, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Qimei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Runfu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Zhengmei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Junqi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ling
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000235:genetics; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D058574:Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein / Q000235:genetics; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology*; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000166:cytology; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000235:genetics; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway; D055815:Young Adult; D000099311:Dentin Sialophosphoprotein
chemical_list: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D058574:Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein; D035683:MicroRNAs; D015675:Osteocalcin; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D000099311:Dentin Sialophosphoprotein