Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Stem cell factor (SCF) serves as a factor having a promotion effect on proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. Whether SCF affects biological features of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), and plays an important role in tooth regeneration remain unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To observe SCF effects on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human DPSCs.
METHODS: Pulp tissues were removed from healthy human teeth extracted for orthodontic purposes. The pulp tissues were digested by collagenase and dispase. The sample was cultivated in culture flasks with medium contained 1, 10 μmol/L SCF; the normal culture medium served as control. The cell proliferation ability was detected by MTT. The osteogenic gene bone sialoprotein and osteocalcin mRNA expression were examined by real-time PCR. Alkaline phosphatase activity was detected by alkaline phosphatase kit.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: SCF could enhance the proliferation ability, upregulate bone sialoprotein and osteocalcin mRNA expression, and enhance the alkaline phosphatase activity, with the tendency of increased promotion with increased concentration. Results indicated that SCF could enhance the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation ability of human DPSCs.