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The aim of this study is to clarify the biological functions of decorin (DCN) in the healing and regeneration of wounded periodontal tissue. We investigated the expression pattern of DCN during the healing of wounded periodontal tissue in rats by immunohistochemistry and the effects of DCN on the osteoblastic differentiation of human periodontal ligament (PDL) stem cells (HPDLSCs) and preosteoblasts by Alizarin red S staining, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions, and western blotting. The expression of DCN was increased around the wounded PDL tissue on day 5 after surgery compared with the nonwounded PDL tissue, whereas its expression was not changed in the osteoblastic layer around the wounded alveolar bone. Furthermore, DCN promoted the osteoblastic differentiation of HPDLSCs, but it did not affect the osteoblastic differentiation of preosteoblasts. ERK1/2 phosphorylation was upregulated during the DCN-induced osteoblastic differentiation of HPDLSCs. DCN did not affect proliferation, migration, or the PDL-related gene expression of HPDLSCs. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that DCN has a role in the healing of wounded periodontal tissue. Furthermore, DCN secreted from PDL cells may contribute to bone healing by upregulating osteoblastic differentiation through ERK1/2 signaling in HPDLSCs, indicating a therapeutic effect of DCN in periodontal tissue regeneration.

Appropriate mechanical loading during occlusion and mastication play an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2), a matricellular protein, is known to upregulate extracellular matrix production, including collagen in PDL tissue. However, the underlying mechanisms of CTGF/CCN2 in regulation of PDL tissue integrity remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of CTGF/CCN2 on osteo/cementoblastic and fibroblastic differentiation of human PDL stem cells using the cell line 1-11. CTGF/CCN2 expression in rat PDL tissue and human PDL cells (HPDLCs) was confirmed immunohisto/cytochemically. Mechanical loading was found to increase gene expression and secretion of CTGF/CCN2 in HPDLCs. CTGF/CCN2 upregulated the proliferation and migration of 1-11 cells. Furthermore, increased bone/cementum-related gene expression in this cell line led to mineralization. In addition, combined treatment of 1-11 cells with CTGF/CCN2 and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) significantly promoted type I collagen and fibronectin expression compared with that of TGF-β1 treatment alone. Thus, these data suggest the underlying biphasic effects of CTGF/CCN2 in 1-11 cells, inducible osteo/cementoblastic, and fibroblastic differentiation dependent on the environmental condition. CTGF/CCN2 may contribute to preservation of the structural integrity of PDL tissue, implying its potential use as a therapeutic agent for PDL regeneration., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Conventional direct pulp-capping materials induce pulp cells to secrete various biomolecules in pulp tissues that promote reparative dentin formation through induction of odontoblastic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). However, these biomolecules sometimes induce bone-like dentin with poor sealing properties. Therefore, exploration of biomolecules that allow tight sealing by tubular reparative dentin is required. We recently reported that dopamine (DA) is involved in dentinogenesis. Hence, we investigated the effect of DA on odontoblastic differentiation of DPSCs and reparative dentin formation. Both tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a DA synthetase, and DA were expressed in odontoblast-like cells in vivo. In vitro, their expression was increased during odontoblastic differentiation of DPSCs. Furthermore, TH-overexpressing DPSCs had promoted odontoblastic differentiation and DA production. Moreover, DA stimulation promoted their differentiation and induced tubular reparative dentin. These results suggest that DA produced by TH is involved in odontoblastic differentiation of DPSCs and has an inductive capacity for reparative dentin formation similar to primary dentin. This study may lead to the development of therapy to preserve vital pulp tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to characterize a clonal human periodontal ligament (PDL) stem cell line (line 2–23 cells) cultured with root canal sealers based on methacrylate resin (SuperBond sealer; SB), bioactive glass (Nishika Canal Sealer BG; BG), or silicon (GuttaFlow 2; GF). The sealers were set in rubber molds to form sealer discs. Line 2–23 cells were cultured with or without the discs for 3 days. The cell viability was evaluated by direct cell counting and MTT assay. Inflammation-, PDL-, collagen-, and cell cycle-related gene expression was investigated by real-time RT-PCR. Collagen production was analyzed by Picro Sirius Red staining. Calcium ion concentration in the culture was measured by a QuantiChrom calcium assay kit. Line 2–23 cells survived when cultured with GF discs, but decreased cell viability was observed with SB and BG discs. The expression of inflammation-related genes was higher in cells cultured with SB discs, and expression of PDL-related genes was lower in cells exposed to SB and BG discs. These discs also down-regulated collagen production in line 2–23 cells. BG discs increased calcium ion concentration in the culture medium. Cells exposed to GF discs exhibited the same inflammation-, PDL-, collagen-, and cell cycle-related gene expression and collagen production as untreated cells. These results suggested that the characteristics of line 2–23 cells cultured with GF discs was highly resemble to untreated cells throughout the 3 days of the culture model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontal ligament (PDL) stem cells (PDLSCs) have been reported as a useful cell source for periodontal tissue regeneration. However, one of the issues is the difficulty of obtaining a sufficient number of PDLSCs for clinical application because very few PDLSCs can be isolated from PDL tissue of donors. Therefore, we aimed to identify a specific factor that converts human PDL cells into stem-like cells. In this study, microarray analysis comparing the gene profiles of human PDLSC lines (2-14 and 2-23) with those of a cell line with a low differentiation potential (2-52) identified the imprinted gene mesoderm-specific transcript (MEST). MEST was expressed in the cytoplasm of 2-23 cells. Knockdown of MEST by siRNA in 2-23 cells inhibited the expression of stem cell markers, such as CD105, CD146, p75NTR, N-cadherin, and NANOG; the proliferative potential; and multidifferentiation capacity for osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. On the other hand, overexpression of MEST in 2-52 cells enhanced the expression of stem cell markers and PDL-related markers and the multidifferentiation capacity. In addition, MEST-overexpressing 2-52 cells exhibited a change in morphology from a spindle shape to a stem cell-like round shape that was similar to 2-14 and 2-23 cell morphologies. These results suggest that MEST plays a critical role in the maintenance of stemness in PDLSCs and converts PDL cells into PDLSC-like cells. Therefore, this study indicates that MEST may be a therapeutic factor for periodontal tissue regeneration by inducing PDLSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontal tissue regeneration is important for preserving teeth. Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) are useful in periodontal tissue regeneration; however, tooth extraction is required to obtain these cells. Therefore, we focused on induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and established a method to obtain PDLSC-like cells from iPS cells. Specifically, we first differentiated iPS cells into neural crest–like cells (iNCs). Next, we obtained PDLSC-like cells (iPDLSCs) by culturing iNCs on extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from human primary periodontal ligament cells (HPDLCs). This differentiation method suggested that ECM derived from HPDLCs is important for iPDLSC differentiation. Thus, we aimed to identify the PDLSC-inducing factor present in HPDLC-derived ECM in this study. We first performed comprehensive analyses of HPDLC genes and identified fibrillin-2 (FBN2), an ECM-related factor. Furthermore, to clarify the effect of FBN2 on iPDLSC differentiation, we cultured iNCs using ECM derived from HPDLCs with FBN2 knocked down. As a result, expression of PDL-related markers was reduced in iNCs cultured on ECM derived from HPDLCs transfected with FBN2 siRNA (iNC-siFBN2) compared with iPDLSCs. Furthermore, the expression of CD105 (a mesenchymal stem cell marker), proliferation ability, and multipotency of iNC-siFBN2 were lower compared with iPDLSCs. Next, we cultured iNCs on FBN2 recombinant protein; however, expression of PDL-related markers did not increase compared with iPDLSC. The present results suggest the critical involvement of FBN2 in inducing iPDLSCs from iNCs when in fact it does not promote iPDLSC differantiation. Therefore, we need to elucidate the entire HPDLC-ECMs, responsible for iPDLSCs induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wnt5a, a non-canonical Wnt protein, is known to play important roles in several cell functions. However, little is known about the effects of Wnt5a on osteoblastic differentiation of periodontal ligament (PDL) cells. Here, we examined the effects of Wnt5a on osteoblastic differentiation and associated intracellular signaling in human PDL stem/progenitor cells (HPDLSCs). We found that Wnt5a suppressed expression of bone-related genes (ALP, BSP, and Osterix) and alizarin red-positive mineralized nodule formation in HPDLSCs under osteogenic conditions. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that a Wnt5a-related receptor, receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 (Ror2), was expressed in rat PDL tissue. Interestingly, knockdown of Ror2 by siRNA inhibited the Wnt5a-induced downregulation of bone-related gene expression in HPDLSCs. Moreover, Western blotting analysis showed that phosphorylation of the intracellular signaling molecule, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was upregulated in HPDLSCs cultured in osteoblast induction medium with Wnt5a, but knockdown of Ror2 by siRNA downregulated the phosphorylation of JNK. We also examined the effects of JNK inhibition on Wnt5a-induced suppression of osteoblastic differentiation of HPDLSCs. The JNK inhibitor, SP600125 inhibited the Wnt5a-induced downregulation of bone-related gene expression in HPDLSCs. Additionally, SP600125 inhibited the Wnt5a-induced suppression of the alizarin red-positive reaction in HPDLSCs. These results suggest that Wnt5a suppressed osteoblastic differentiation of HPDLSCs through Ror2/JNK signaling. Non-canonical Wnt signaling, including Wnt5a/Ror2/JNK signaling, may function as a negative regulator of mineralization, preventing the development of non-physiological mineralization in PDL tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few clinical treatments to regenerate periodontal tissue lost due to severe endodontic and periodontal disease have yet been developed. Therefore, the development of new treatment methods for the regeneration of periodontal tissue is expected. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, SP600125, on the osteoblastic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) in vitro, and the function of SP600125 on the regeneration of alveolar bone in vivo. Alizarin red S staining, quantitative RT-PCR, and western blotting analysis was performed to determine whether SP600125 affects osteoblastic differentiation of human PDLSCs (HPDLSCs) and bone-related intracellular signaling. The effect of SP600125 on the regeneration of alveolar bone was assessed by using a rat periodontal defect model. The healing of periodontal defects was evaluated using micro-CT scans and histological analysis. SP600125 promoted the osteoblastic differentiation such as Alizarin red S-positive mineralized nodule formation and the expression of osteoblast-related genes in HPDLSCs under osteogenic conditions. In addition, this inhibitor upregulated the BMP2 expression and the phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 in HPDLSCs under the same conditions. The inhibition of Smad1/5/8 signaling by LDN193189 suppressed the SP600125-induced osteoblastic differentiation of HPDLSCs. Furthermore, the application of SP600125 promoted the regeneration of not only alveolar bone but also PDL tissue in periodontal defects. This study suggested that inhibition of JNK signaling promotes the osteoblastic differentiation of HPDLSCs through BMP2-Smad1/5/8 signaling, leading to the regeneration of periodontal tissues such as alveolar bone and PDL tissue. • A JNK inhibitor, SP600125, promotes osteoblastic differentiation of PDL stem cells. • Smad1/5/8 mediates SP600125-induced osteoblast differentiation of PDL stem cells. • SP600125 promotes periodontal tissue regeneration at periodontal defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]