Dental Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Dental, including details on implants, health, hygiene, cosmetic, dentistry.

In vitro differentiation of human dental follicle cells with dexamethasone and insulin.

Morsczeck C, Moehl C, Götz W, Heredia A, Schäffer TE, Eckstein N, Sippel C, Hoffmann KH

Stiftung caesar, Center of Advanced European Studies and Research, Ludwig Erhard Allee 2, 53175 Bonn, Germany. morsczeck@gmx.de

The dental follicle is an ectomesenchymally derived connective tissue harboring precursor cells for the tooth supporting apparatus. In this study, we examined gene expression of freshly isolated human dental follicle cells during osteogenic differentiation in vitro. These plastic adherent fibroblastic cells express Notch-1, nestin and vimentin. We differentiated dental follicle cells with dexamethasone or insulin-based protocols into membrane-like structures containing mineralizing foci. An analysis of mineralized tissue with atomic force microscopy illustrated a bone and cementum-like structure. A real-time RT-PCR analysis was developed to investigate expression of typical osteoblast or cementoblast related genes during differentiation. Gene expressions of osteocalcin (OCN), bone morphogenic protein (BMP)-2 and nestin were increased during the both differentiation approaches. Our work demonstrates differentiation of dental follicle cells with an insulin-based protocol for the first time.

Published 15 August 2005 in Cell Biol Int, 29(7): 567-75.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Dental Research Today. All Rights Reserved.