title: Combined Effects of Growth Hormone and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate on Growth, Differentiation, and Angiogenesis in Human Dental Pulp Cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of growth hormone (GH) on mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) with regard to cell adhesion, growth, odontoblastic differentiation, and angiogenesis in human dental pulp cells and the underlying signal pathway mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell adhesion and proliferation were assessed by adhesion analysis and cell counting. Differentiation was examined by alkaline phosphatase activity, alizarin red staining, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for marker genes. Angiogenesis was evaluated by human umbilical vein endothelial cell migration and capillary tube formation assays. Signaling pathways were analyzed by Western blotting and confocal microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Combined treatment with GH and MTA enhanced cell adhesion, growth, alkaline phosphatase activity, calcified nodules, expression of marker mRNAs, migration, and capillary tube formation, compared with treatment with MTA or GH alone. In addition, GH plus MTA increased expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 mRNA, phosphorylation of Smad 1/5/8, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, JNK, and p38 MAPK, and increased the levels of the transcription factors Runx2 and Osterix, compared with MTA alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collectively, our results demonstrate that a combination of MTA and GH promotes cell adhesion, growth, differentiation, and angiogenesis of MTA in human dental pulp cells via the activation of bone morphogenetic protein and MAPK pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry and Research Center for Tooth and Periodontal Regeneration (MRC), Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Mun
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seok-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry and Research Center for Tooth and Periodontal Regeneration (MRC), Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Ran
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry and Research Center for Tooth and Periodontal Regeneration (MRC), Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Herr
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry and Research Center for Tooth and Periodontal Regeneration (MRC), Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: eckim@khu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Eun-Cheol
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D010087:Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017640:Silicates / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010087:Oxides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017640:Silicates; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate; D013006:Growth Hormone
keywords: Angiogenesis; MTA; growth; growth hormone; human dental pulp cells; odontogenic differentiation