title: Mechanical changes in human dental pulp stem cells during early odontogenic differentiation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cell adhesion and migration in bioactive scaffolds require actin cytoskeleton remodeling and focal adhesion formation. Additionally, human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) undergo several changes in their mechanical properties during odontogenic differentiation. The effect of factors essential for odontogenesis on actin stress fiber elasticity and focal adhesion formation is not known.
  
  
  METHODS
  Live hDPSCs cultured in odontogenic media were imaged for cytoskeleton changes using an atomic force microscope. The Young's modulus (kPa) of the cytoskeleton was recorded as a function of culture medium for 10 days. Focal adhesion formation was assessed using immunofluorescence. Cultured hDPSCs were incubated with a monoclonal vinculin antibody, and filamentous actins were visualized using 0.5 μmol/L phalloidin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cytoskeletal elasticity significantly increased in response to odontogenic media. Both the number and physical size of focal adhesions in hDPSCs also increased. Up-regulation of vinculin expression was evident. The increase in the formation of focal adhesions was consistent with actin remodeling to stress fibers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that hDPSCs firmly attach to the glass substrate in response to odontogenic media. Successful regeneration of pulp-dentin tissue using biomimetic scaffolds will likely require cell-extracellular matrix interactions influenced by biochemical induction factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Taneka D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naimipour
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Electronic address: salapati@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Satish B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Alapati
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015638:Cytochalasin D / Q000494:pharmacology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D016596:Vinculin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D016596:Vinculin; D015638:Cytochalasin D
keywords: Actin reorganization; adhesion; attachment; human dental pulp stem cells; regeneration