title: Exploiting the Bioactive Properties of the Dentin-Pulp Complex in Regenerative Endodontics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development of regenerative endodontic therapies offers exciting opportunities for future improvements in treatment outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Advances in our understanding of regenerative events at the molecular and cellular levels are helping to underpin development of these therapies, although the various strategies differ in the translational challenges they pose. The identification of a variety of bioactive molecules, including growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and matrix molecules, sequestered within dentin and dental pulp provides the opportunity to present key signaling molecules promoting reparative and regenerative events after injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The protection of the biological activity of these molecules by mineral in dentin before their release allows a continuing supply of these molecules, while avoiding the short half-life and the non-human origin of exogenous molecules. The ready release of these bioactive molecules by the various tissue preparation agents, medicaments, and materials commonly used in endodontics highlights the opportunities for translational regenerative strategies exploiting these molecules with little change to existing clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Electronic address: a.j.smith@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Division of Restorative Dentistry and Periodontology, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Henry F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas.
authors.forename: Anibal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diogenes
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology and Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Paris Diderot, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D003804:Dentin / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004708:Endodontics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Bioactive molecules; cell signaling; dentin; pulp; regenerative endodontics