title: Differentiation capacity of mouse dental pulp stem cells into osteoblasts and osteoclasts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our research attempted to show that mouse dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) with characters such as accessibility, propagation and higher proliferation rate can provide an improved approach for generate bone tissues. With the aim of finding and comparing the differentiation ability of mesenchymal stem cells derived from DPSCs into osteoblast and osteoclast cells; morphological, molecular and biochemical analyses were conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this experimental study, osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation was induced by specific differentiation medium. In order to induce osteoblast differentiation, 50 μg mL(-1) ascorbic acid and 10 mM β-glycerophosphate as growth factors were added to the complete medium consisting alpha-modified Eagle's medium (α-MEM), 15% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and penicillin/streptomycin, while in order to induce the osteoclast differentiation, 10 ng/mL receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) and 5 ng/mL macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) were added to complete medium. Statistical comparison between the osteoblast and osteoclast differentiated groups and control were carried out using t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proliferation activity of cells was estimated by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Statistical results demonstrated significant difference (p<0.05) between the control and osteoblastic induction group, whereas osteoclast cells maintained its proliferation rate (p>0.05). Morphological characterization of osteoblast and osteoclast was evaluated using von Kossa staining and May-Grunwald-Giemsa technique, respectively. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) molecular analysis demonstrated that mouse DPSCs expressed Cd146 and Cd166 markers, but did not express Cd31, indicating that these cells belong to mesenchymal stem cells. Osteoblast cells with positive osteopontin (Opn) marker were found after 21 days, whereas this marker was negative for DPSCs. CatK, as an osteoclast marker, was negative in both osteoclast differentiation medium and control group. Biochemical analyses in osteoblast differentiated groups showed alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity significantly increased on day 21 as compared to control (p<0.05). In osteoclast differentiated groups, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity representing osteoclast biomarker didn't show statistically significant as compared to control (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DPSCs have the ability to differentiate into osteoblast, but not into osteoclast.
authors: School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors: Shabnam
authors: S
authors: Kermani
authors: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Rohaya
authors: R
authors: Megat Abdul Wahab
authors: School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors: Intan
authors: I
authors: Zarina Zainol Abidin
authors: School of Biology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors: Zaidah
authors: Z
authors: Zainal Ariffin
authors: School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors: Sahidan
authors: S
authors: Senafi
authors: School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors: Shahrul
authors: S
authors: Hisham Zainal Ariffin
keywords: Dental Pulp; Differentiation; Osteoblasts; Osteoclasts; Stem Cells