2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (30): 4862-4866

Effect of transforming growth factor-beta 3 and bone morphogenetic protein-2 on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells

Ailimaierdan·Ainiwaer1, Muhetaer·Huojia2, Wang Ling1     

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Less is reported about the effect of transforming growth factor-beta 3 and bone morphogenetic protein-2 on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells.  
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of transforming growth factor-beta 3 and bone morphogenetic protein-2 on the osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells and its preliminary mechanism.
METHODS:   Dental pulp stem cells were isolated from the pulp tissue of New Zealand rabbit by the enzymatic digestion method. Dental pulp stem cells at passage 3 were divided into the blank group, bone morphogenetic protein-2 group (80 μg/L) and transforming growth factor-beta 3 group (80 μg/L). The cell proliferation activity in each group was tested by MTT assay. After 7 and 14 days of culture, alkaline phosphatase activities were measured. Runt-related transcription factor 2 and bone sialoprotein protein expression levels were conducted by immunocytochemical staining. Osteogenesis-related gene expression was tested through RT-qPCR method. Alizarin red S staining was conducted after 14 and 21 days of culture to observe mineralized nodules.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Dental pulp stem cell proliferation activity and alkaline phosphatase activity were higher in the bone morphogenetic protein-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 3 groups than those in the blank group (P < 0.05). The alkaline phosphatase activity of the transforming growth factor-beta 3 group on day 7 was higher than that of the bone morphogenetic protein-2 group (P < 0.05). (2) The expression levels of Runt-related transcription factor 2 and bone sialoprotein in the transforming growth factor-beta 3 group and the bone morphogenetic protein-2 group were higher than those in the blank group (P < 0.05). The protein expression of Runt-related transcription factor 2 in the transforming growth factor-beta 3 group on day 7 was higher than that in the bone morphogenetic protein-2 group (P < 0.05). (3) The expression levels of alkaline phosphatase, type I collagen A1, Runt-related transcription factor 2, osteocalcin, osteopontin and Osx genes in the transforming growth factor-beta 3 group and bone morphogenetic protein-2 group were higher than those in the blank group (P < 0.05). On day 7, the expression levels of alkaline phosphatase, type I collagen A1, and Runt-related transcription factor 2 genes of transforming growth factor-beta 3 group were higher than those of bone morphogenetic protein-2 group (P < 0.05). (4) The mineralized nodules in the transforming growth factor-beta 3 group and bone morphogenetic protein-2 group were more obvious than those in the blank group. (5) The results show that transforming growth factor-beta 3 and bone morphogenetic protein-2 can improve the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells. The osteogenic induction ability of transforming growth factor-beta 3 on dental pulp stem cells was better than that of bone morphogenetic protein-2 at the early stage of osteogenesis.
Key words: transforming growth factor-beta 3, bone morphogenetic protein-2, dental pulp stem cells, proliferation, osteogenic differentiation