Formation of tertiary dentin to maintain pulp vitality is a major odontoblastic response to dental pulp injury. Human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (hBMP2) can promote proliferation and differentiation of odontoblasts. Current study is interested in evaluating if the hBMP2 can promote the regeneration of tertiary dentin and cure dental pulp injury using the adenoviral vector to deliver hBMP2 cDNA into the pulp. Primary culture of dental pulp cells of exfoliated deciduous teeth (hDPCs) was established. Human serotype 5 adenoviral vector, AdCMV-hBMP2, was created. AdCMV-hBMP2 was used to transduce hDPCs in vitro and dental pulp cells in animal model in vivo. Data clearly demonstrated that hBMP2 increased ALP and mineralization. Reverse transcription-real time quantitative PCR (RT-QPCR) data showed that hBMP2 dramatically increased gene expressions of Runx2 (Runt-related transcription factor 2), ALP, Col Iα (Collagen 1a1), SP7 (Osterix), DMP1 (dentin matrix acidic phosphoprotein 1), DSPP (dentin sialophosphoprotein), and BSP (bonesialoprotein), which are normally involved in osteogenesis/odontogenesis. Data from in vivo assays demonstrated that hBMP2 promoted pulp cell proliferation and increased formation of tertiary dentin in dental pulp. Our in vitro and in vivo data suggest that hBMP2 gene can efficiently be delivered into the dental pulp cells by adenovirus, and show potential clinical application for the treatment of dental pulp damage.
Keywords: dental pulp cells; formation of tertiary dentin; gene therapy; hBMP2; mineralization.