Differentiation Ability of Dental Pulp Cells of Deciduous Teeth under Hypoxia

Abstract

Stem cells have been a recent focus of regenerative medicine research, and dental pulp cells are considered as a source of stem cells. Cell proliferation and differentiation of dental pulp cells in deciduous teeth are greater than those of dental pulp cells in permanent teeth. Some reports indicate that hypoxia upregulates the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. In this study, we examined the effect of hypoxia on human dental pulp cells of deciduous teeth. Hypoxia at 2% O₂ for 2 days did not affect cell proliferation of human dental pulp cells from deciduous teeth. However, it increased the gene expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1-1α, Oct3/4, Sox2, and C-Myc, and enhanced adipogenic differentiation. These results suggest that hypoxia enhances the differentiation ability of dental pulp cells in deciduous teeth.