2022 Volume 56 Issue 2 Pages 197-201
Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) play an important role in the homeostasis of the pulp tissue and have a high potential for osteogenic differentiation. Enamel matrix derivative (EMD) has been used in periodontal regeneration therapy. Previously, we designed a synthetic amelogenin peptide (AP) derived from EMD. In this study, we investigated the effects of AP on DPSCs and evaluated its usefulness as a dental pulp capping material. DPSCs were cultured in medium supplemented with AP (0 and 100 ng/mL) to examine the effect of DPSCs on cell morphology and the cell migration ability. In addition, DPSCs were cultured with osteogenic medium supplemented with AP at 0 and 100 ng/mL, and their osteogenic differentiation was examined by Alizarin Red staining. AP promoted cell extension by altering cell morphology, and also significantly promoted DPSCs chemotaxis and cell migration. Moreover, the number of calcified nodule formations stained by Alizarin Red increased in the AP group. In summary, AP may be useful as a dental pulp capping material. (J Osaka Dent Univ 2022; 56: 197-201)
