This study aimed to investigate the effects of silicates on the proliferation and odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) in vitro. HDPCs were cultured in the presence of calcium silicate (CS) extracts, while calcium hydroxide (CH) extracts and culture medium without CH or CS were used as the control groups. The calcium and phosphorus ion concentrations in the CS were similar to those in the control groups, but the concentration of silicon ions in the CS extracts was higher than that in the control groups. HDPCs cultured with CS and CH extracts at dilution of 1/128 proliferated significantly more than those cultured with the control treatments. CS extracts promoted cell migration, enhanced the expression of odontogenic marker genes and conspicuously increased odontogenesis-related protein production and the release of cytokines, suggesting that CS bioactive ceramics possess excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity and have the potential for application as pulp-capping agents.
Keywords: Calcium silicate; Cytokines; Dental pulp cells; Differentiation; Mineralization.