The role of vitamin D receptor in predentin mineralization and dental repair after injury.

Dentin is a permeable and complex tubular composite formed by the mineralization of predentin that mineralization and repair are of considerable clinical interest during dentin homeostasis. The role of Vdr, a receptor of vitamin D, in dentin homeostasis remains unexplored. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of Vdr on predentin mineralization and dental repair. Vdr-knockout (Vdr) mice models were constructed; histology and immunohistochemistry analyses were conducted for both WT and Vdr mice. The finding revealed a thicker predentin in Vdr mice, characterized by higher expression of biglycan and decorin. A dental injury model was employed to observe tertiary dentin formation in Vdr mice with dental injuries. Results showed that tertiary dentin was harder to form in Vdr mice with dental injury. Over time, heightened pulp invasion was observed at the injury site in Vdr mice. Expression of biglycan and decorin was reduced in the predentin at the injury site in the Vdr mice by immunohistochemistry. Taken together, our results imply that Vdr plays a regulatory role in predentin mineralization and tertiary dentin formation during dentin homeostasis.