Shuhei Tsuchiya

Quiescent epithelial cell rests of Malassez can differentiate into ameloblast-like cells

Epithelial cell rests of Malassez (ERM) are quiescent epithelial remnants of Hertwigs epithelial root sheath (HERS) that are involved in the formation of tooth roots. After completion of crown formation, HERS are converted from cervical loop cells, which have the potential to generate enamel for tooth crown formation. Cervical loop cells have the potential to differentiate into ameloblasts. Generally, no new ameloblasts can be generated from HERS, however this study demonstrated that subcultured ERM can differentiate into ameloblast‐like cells and generate enamel‐like tissues in combination with dental pulp cells at the crown formation stage. Porcine ERM were obtained from periodontal ligament tissue by explant culture and were subcultured with non‐serum medium. Thereafter, subcultured ERM were expanded on 3T3‐J2 feeder cell layers until the tenth passage. The in vitro mRNA expression pattern of the subcultured ERM after four passages was found to be different from that of enamel organ epithelial cells and oral gingival epithelial cells after the fourth passage using the same expansion technique. When subcultured ERM were combined with subcultured dental pulp cells, ERM expressed cytokeratin14 and amelogenin proteins in vitro. In addition, subcultured ERM combined with primary dental pulp cells seeded onto scaffolds showed enamel‐like tissues at 8 weeks post‐transplantation. Moreover, positive staining for amelogenin was observed in the enamel‐like tissues, indicating the presence of well‐developed ameloblasts in the implants. These results suggest that ERM can differentiate into ameloblast‐like cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 217: 728–738, 2008.

Mmp-20 and Klk4 Cleavage Site Preferences for Amelogenin Sequences

Mmp-20 and Klk4 are the two key enamel proteases. Can both enzymes process amelogenin to generate the major cleavage products that accumulate during the secretory stage of amelogenesis? We isolated Mmp-20 and Klk4 from developing pig teeth and used them to digest the tyrosine-rich amelogenin polypeptide (TRAP), the leucine-rich amelogenin protein (LRAP), and 5 fluorescence peptides. We characterized the digestion products by LC-MSMS, SDS-PAGE, and C18 RP-HPLC monitored with fluorescence and UV detectors. Mmp-20 cleaves amelogenin sequences after Pro162, Ser148, His62, Ala63, and Trp45. These cleavages generate all of the major cleavage products that accumulate in porcine secretory-stage enamel: the 23-kDa, 20-kDa, 13-kDa, 11-kDa, and 6-kDa (TRAP) amelogenins. Mmp-20 cleaves LRAP after Pro45 and Pro40, producing the two LRAP products previously identified in tooth extracts. Among these key cleavage sites, Klk4 was able to cleave only after His62. We propose that Mmp-20 alone processes amelogenin during the secretory stage.

Astacin proteases cleave dentin sialophosphoprotein (Dspp) to generate dentin phosphoprotein (Dpp)

Dentin sialophosphoprotein (Dspp) is critical for proper dentin biomineralization because genetic defects in DSPP cause dentin dysplasia type II and dentinogenesis imperfecta types II and III. Dspp is processed by proteases into smaller subunits; the initial cleavage releases dentin phosphoprotein (Dpp). We incubated fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) peptides containing the amino acid context of the Dpp cleavage site (YEFDGKSMQGDDPN, designated Dspp‐FRET) or a mutant version of that context (YEFDGKSIEGDDPN, designated mutDspp‐FRET) with BMP‐1, MEP1A, MEP1B, MMP‐2, MMP‐8, MMP‐9, MT1‐MMP, MT3‐MMP, Klk4, MMP‐20, plasmin, or porcine Dpp and characterized the peptide cleavage products. Only BMP‐1, MEP1A, and MEP1B cleaved Dspp‐FRET at the G–D peptide bond that releases Dpp from Dspp in vivo. We isolated Dspp proteoglycan from dentin power and incubated it with the three enzymes that cleaved Dspp‐FRET at the G–D bond. In each case, the released Dpp domain was isolated, and its N‐terminus was characterized by Edman degradation. BMP‐1 and MEP1A both cleaved native Dspp at the correct site to generate Dpp, making both these enzymes prime candidates for the protease that cleaves Dspp in vivo. MEP1B was able to degrade Dpp when the Dpp was at sufficiently high concentration to deplete free calcium ion concentration. Immunohistochemistry of developing porcine molars demonstrated that astacins are expressed by odontoblasts, a result that is consistent with RT‐PCR analyses. We conclude that during odontogenesis, astacins in the predentin matrix cleave Dspp before the DDPN sequence at the N‐terminus of Dpp to release Dpp from the parent Dspp protein.

Stem cells isolated from human dental follicles have osteogenic potential.

OBJECTIVE Stem cells isolated from human dental follicles as a potential cell source for bone-tissue engineering were examined for correcting a critical bone defect. STUDY DESIGN Impacted third molars were collected and single cell-derived cell populations were cultivated in growth medium. Single cell-derived cell lines were examined in terms of cell shape, gene expression patterns, differentiation capacity in vitro, and osteogenic potential in vivo. RESULTS Three distinct cell populations were identified with different morphologies, patterns of gene expression, and differentiation capacity. All 3 cell populations promoted bone formation when transplanted into surgically created critical-size defects in immunodeficient rat calvaria, compared with control animals without cell transplantation, although one of these populations showed a weak capacity for osteogenetic differentiation in vitro. CONCLUSIONS Human dental follicle can derive at least 3 unique cell populations in culture, all of which promote bone formation in vivo.

Osteogenic Differentiation Capacity of Porcine Dental Follicle Progenitor Cells

This study examined the effect of extracellular matrix (ECM) on the osteogenic differentiation capacity and osteogenesis of dental follicle cells. Single cell-derived porcine dental follicle cells (DFC-I) obtained at the early stage of crown formation in tooth were subcultured and characterized using periodontal ligament cells (PDLC) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) as comparison cell populations. The effect of ECM constituents including collagen type I, fibronectin, laminin, and collagen type IV on the differentiation of DFC-1 into osteogenic-lineage cells was evaluated in vitro. In addition, the DFC-1, PDLC, and BMSC populations were compared for osteogenic capacity in vitro by Alizarin red staining and in vivo by transplantation. DFC-I showed different features from PDLC and BMSC. Different components of ECM had different effects on the differentiation of DFC-1 into osteogenic-lineage cells in vitro. Alkaline phosphatase activity and matrix mineralization as early- and late-stage markers of osteogenesis, respectively, supported the differentiation of DFC-1 into osteogenic-related cells in vitro. All three cell types showed equivalent osteogenic capacity in vivo at 4 weeks postoperatively. There were no statistically significant differences among the cell populations with respect to capacity for bone formation. These results suggest a potential application for dental follicle cells in bone-tissue engineering.

The location and characteristics of two populations of dental pulp cells affect tooth development.

This study investigated the characteristics of two dental pulp cell populations during the early stages of crown formation in porcine teeth. A transplantation method was developed to reproduce epithelial cell-mesenchymal cell interactions during odontogenesis (tooth development). The technique allowed two types of cells/tissue to be combined in vivo. Populations of cells localized in the cervical loop epithelium region, dental pulp horn, and dental pulp core chambers were isolated and dissociated into single cells. Each population was examined for its gene-expression pattern using both semiquantitative and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses, and for its tissue-formation capability by combining the cervical loop epithelial cells with either pulp horn cells or pulp core cells on biodegradable collagen scaffolds that were subsequently examined using histology and immunohistology. Gene-expression patterns showed that pulp horn cells were more mature than pulp core cells. Cervical loop epithelial cells combined with pulp horn cells mainly reconstituted dentin-cementum structures. By contrast, cervical loop epithelial cells combined with pulp core cells reconstituted enamel-dentin structures. These results suggest that mesenchymal cells residing in a specific location of the pulp possess a specific tissue-formation potential when combined with epithelial cells.

Oral bacterial extracts facilitate early osteogenic/dentinogenic differentiation in human dental pulp–derived cells

OBJECTIVES Bacterial metabolites demineralize dental hard tissues, and soluble factors lead to tertiary dentinogenesis in the area of the dentin-pulp complex. However, it is unclear whether the oral bacteria are directly involved in the differentiation of dental pulp cells. In this study, we evaluated the effect of oral bacterial extracts on cellular differentiation in human dental pulp-derived cells (hDPC). STUDY DESIGN The hDPC were obtained from third molar teeth, and the cells were subcultured. The sonicated extracts were obtained from Porphyromonas gingivalis (gram-negative) and Streptococcus mutans (gram-positive). The effect of bacterial extracts on cellular growth and differentiation in hDPC were tested. RESULTS Alkaline phosphatase activity and bone sialoprotein (BSP) gene expression were increased in hDPC exposed to low concentrations of both sonicated extracts, whereas the activity was decreased upon exposure to high concentrations of sonicated extracts from P. gingivalis. CONCLUSION This is the first evidence that oral bacteria have a positive effect on cellular differentiation in hPDC.

An experimental study of bone healing around the titanium screw implants in ovariectomized rats: enhancement of bone healing by bone marrow stromal cells transplantation.

Purpose:This study is to evaluate the bone quality of surrounding areas of implants with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) transplantation to rat femur, which have become osteoporosis-induced models. Materials and Methods:The Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: the first group where their ovaries were removed (OVX group), the second group where a sham surgery was given (SHAM group), and the third group where BMSCs were transplanted to an OVX group (OVX-BMSCs group). In the OVX-BMSCs group, 1 × 105 BMSCs were transplanted into femur with implant. Each value of the bone to implant contact and the bone area of each cortical bone and cancellous bone was obtained. Bone density of the width of 500 &mgr;m from the implants was measured. Results:Each ratio of bone to implant contact, bone area, and bone density in the OVX-BMSCs group was significantly higher than those of OVX group as to the cancellous bone. Conclusion:The BMSCs transplantation therapy improved local bone healing in the cancellous bone surrounding implants and also significantly improved bone binding with implants.

Rat bone marrow stromal cell-conditioned medium promotes early osseointegration of titanium implants.

PURPOSE To enhance the stability of titanium (Ti) implants using conditioned medium (CM) derived from rat bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC). MATERIALS AND METHODS BMSCs were isolated from rat femurs and grown in culture, and the culture medium was used as CM. The CM was immobilized on the surface of Ti implants with calcifying solution. The topology of the Ti implants after immobilization of CM was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Ti-immobilized CM was analyzed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The adhesiveness and the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs grown on CM-coated discs were analyzed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Ti implants with specimen-immobilized CM labeled with quantum dots (QDs) were placed into rat femurs. The localization of the CM was detected by in vivo imaging at 1, 7, 14, and 28 days after implantation. The removal torque test and histologic bone implant contact (BIC) were also analyzed. RESULTS Rat BMSC-CM was successfully immobilized on Ti implants. The immobilized CM contained about 2000 proteins, including collagen type I, bone sialoprotein, fibronectin, and vascular endothelial growth factor that are important in new bone formation. CM promoted cell adhesion and osteocalcin gene expression of rat BMSCs. The labeled CM remained associated with the Ti implant at 1, 7, 14, and 28 days postimplantation. The removal torque value and BIC of Ti implants with immobilized CM were higher than those of control implants on days 1, 7, and 14 after implantation. CONCLUSION Immobilized CM components on the surface of Ti implants promoted integration into bone during an early stage.

Effect of Vitronectin Bound to Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-3 on Porcine Enamel Organ-Derived Epithelial Cells

The aim of this paper was to determine whether the interaction between IGF, IGFBP, and VN modulates the functions of porcine EOE cells. Enamel organs from 6-month-old porcine third molars were dissociated into single epithelial cells and subcultured on culture dishes pretreated with VN, IGF-I, and IGFBP-3 (IGF-IGFBP-VN complex). The subcultured EOE cells retained their capacity for ameloblast-related gene expression, as shown by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Amelogenin expression was detected in the subcultured EOE cells by immunostaining. The subcultured EOE cells were then seeded onto collagen sponge scaffolds in combination with fresh dental mesenchymal cells and transplanted into athymic rats. After 4 weeks, enamel-dentin-like complex structures were present in the implanted constructs. These results show that EOE cells cultured on IGF-IGFBP-VN complex differentiated into ameloblasts-like cells that were able to secrete amelogenin proteins and form enamel-like tissues in vivo. Functional assays demonstrated that the IGF/IGFBP/VN complex significantly enhanced porcine EOE cell proliferation and tissue forming capacity for enamel. This is the first study to demonstrate a functional role of the IGF-IGFBP-VN complex in EOE cells. This application of the subculturing technique provides a foundation for further tooth-tissue engineering and for improving our understanding of ameloblast biology.