Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Material Science, Chair for Biomaterials, Budapester Strasse 27, D-01069 Dresden, Germany.
Head Face Med. 2014 Jun 20;10:25. doi: 10.1186/1746-160X-10-25.
Maintaining or regenerating a vital pulp is a preferable goal in current endodontic research. In this study, human dental pulp cell aggregates (spheres) were applied onto bovine and human root canal models to evaluate their potential use as pre-differentiated tissue units for dental pulp tissue regeneration.
Human dental pulp cells (DPC) were derived from wisdom teeth, cultivated into three-dimensional cell spheres and seeded onto bovine and into human root canals. Sphere formation, tissue-like and mineralization properties as well as growth behavior of cells on dentin structure were evaluated by light microscopy (LM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).
Spheres and outgrown cells showed tissue-like properties, the ability to merge with other cell spheres and extra cellular matrix formation; CLSM investigation revealed a dense network of actin and focal adhesion contacts (FAC) inside the spheres and a pronounced actin structure of cells outgrown from the spheres. A dentin-structure-orientated migration of the cells was shown by SEM investigation. Besides the direct extension of the cells into dentinal tubules, the coverage of the tubular walls with cell matrix was detected. Moreover, an emulation of dentin-like structures with tubuli-like and biomineral formation was detected by SEM- and EDX-investigation.
The results of the present study show tissue-like behavior, the replication of tubular structures and the mineralization of human dental pulp spheres when colonized on root dentin. The application of cells in form of pulp spheres on root dentin reveals their beneficial potential for dental tissue regeneration.
在当前的牙髓研究中，维持或再生有活力的牙髓是一个更好的目标。在这项研究中，将人牙髓细胞聚集物（球体）应用于牛和人根管模型，以评估它们作为牙髓组织再生的预分化组织单位的潜在用途。
从智齿中提取人牙髓细胞（DPC），培养成三维细胞球体，并接种到牛和人根管中。通过光镜（LM）、共聚焦激光扫描显微镜（CLSM）、扫描电子显微镜（SEM）和能谱分析（EDX）评估球体形成、组织样特性和矿化特性以及细胞在牙本质结构上的生长行为。
球体和长出的细胞表现出组织样特性，能够与其他细胞球体融合并形成细胞外基质；CLSM 研究显示球体内部有密集的肌动蛋白和粘着斑接触（FAC）网络，并且从球体中长出的细胞有明显的肌动蛋白结构。SEM 研究显示细胞沿牙本质结构呈定向迁移。除了细胞直接延伸到牙本质小管中，还检测到细胞基质覆盖在管状壁上。此外，通过 SEM 和 EDX 研究还检测到了类似于牙本质的结构，具有小管样和生物矿化形成。
本研究结果表明，人牙髓球体在定植于根牙本质时表现出组织样行为、管状结构的复制和矿化。以牙髓球体形式应用细胞显示出它们在牙髓组织再生方面的有益潜力。
