title: Fluocinolone acetonide promotes the proliferation and mineralization of dental pulp cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the steroid fluocinolone acetonide on the proliferation and mineralization of human dental pulp cells (DPCs). The potential effect of fluocinolone acetonide on reparative dentin formation and the recovery of injured dental pulp were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The proliferative effect of fluocinolone acetonide on DPCs was analyzed by cholecystokinin octapeptide assay and flow cytometry. The mineralized effect of fluocinolone acetonide was investigated by the detection of mineralization-related biomarkers including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone sialoprotein, and osteocalcin by using ALP histochemical staining, ALP activity, immunostaining, alizarin red staining, and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The molecules, including dentin sialophosphoprotein and Wnt4, involved in the process of mineralization were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low concentrations of fluocinolone acetonide (0.1-40 μmol/L) promoted the proliferation of DPCs. The flow cytometry results showed that the CD146-positive subpopulation of DPCs was significantly increased after treatment with fluocinolone acetonide at 1 and 10 μmol/L for 48 hours, respectively. The messenger RNA expression and activity of the early-stage mineralization marker ALP were evidently increased in fluocinolone acetonide-treated DPCs compared with the untreated control group, so did the middle-stage mineralization marker bone sialoprotein and the late-stage mineralization marker osteocalcin. Meanwhile, Wnt4 and the dentin-specific marker dentin sialophosphoprotein were obviously up-regulated by fluocinolone acetonide compared with the untreated controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluocinolone acetonide can promote the proliferation of DPCs, especially for the CD146+ subpopulation. Fluocinolone acetonide can initiate the mineralization of DPCs and has the potential role in repairing injured pulp tissues.
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors: Zhongning
authors: Z
authors: Liu
authors: Ting
authors: T
authors: Jiang
authors: Yixiang
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Xinzhi
authors: X
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D000880:Anthraquinones; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D051929:CD146 Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries; D003809:Dentin, Secondary / Q000187:drug effects; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D005446:Fluocinolone Acetonide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D058574:Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D012844:Sincalide; D060528:Wnt4 Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult; D000099311:Dentin Sialophosphoprotein
chemical_list: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000880:Anthraquinones; D015415:Biomarkers; D051929:CD146 Antigen; D004396:Coloring Agents; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005446:Fluocinolone Acetonide; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D058574:Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein; D015675:Osteocalcin; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D012844:Sincalide; D060528:Wnt4 Protein; D000099311:Dentin Sialophosphoprotein; C497902:MCAM protein, human; C555581:WNT4 protein, human; C010078:alizarin