Effects of Vitamin B₁₂ on Mineralized Nodule Deposition by Dental Pulp Cells from Immunosuppressant-treated Rats

抄録

Bone marrow cells from the rat femur, which contain mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have frequently been used for bone and tooth regeneration both in vivo and in vitro. However, since a low number of MSCs are present in dental pulp cells (DPCs), hard tissue regeneration in vitro requires a long period of time. Therefore, bioactive substances are needed to promote the proliferation and differentiation of these cells. DPCs from rats (rDPCs) treated with a subcutaneous injection of an immunosuppressant formed significantly more mineralized nodule aggregates in subcultures with dexamethasone (Dex). The effects of vitamin B₁₂ (VB₁₂) on the formation of mineralized nodules in subcultures of rDPCs have also been investigated. VB₁₂ was confirmed to be effective for the proliferation and differentiation of MSCs in a subculture with Dex. Therefore, we herein investigated the effects of VB₁₂ on MSC proliferation, differentiation, and osteogenesis in DPCs from immunosuppressant-injected rats. VB₁₂ effectively enhanced the formation of mineralized nodule aggregates in a subculture of rDPCs.