In an effort to re-establish tissue with odontogenic potential in the pulp space of immature permanent teeth, stimulated human dental pulp stem/progenitor cells (hDPSCs) have shown potential to differentiate and form mineralized matrix, marked by high expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and osteocalcin (OCN). Bacterial by-products have been shown to adversely affect cell differentiation. This study investigated the effect of P. gingivalis, a putative endodontic pathogen, and blockage of its host recognition on hDPSCs. Stimulated hDPSCs were exposed to varying concentrations of P. gingivalis by-product and gene expression of DSPP and OCN was measured. Cells were exposed to TLR2 blocking agents prior to exposure to the by-product. P. gingivalis affected dose-dependent suppression of the measured gene expression. Blockade of TLR2 inhibited the by-product derived suppression of gene expression. The immune-potential of by-product was confirmed to be detrimental to the differentiation of hDPSCs, and this effect could be moderated by TLR2-blockade.

In an effort to re-establish tissue with odontogenic potential in the pulp space of immature permanent teeth, stimulated human dental pulp stem/progenitor cells (hDPSCs) have shown potential to differentiate and form mineralized matrix, marked by high expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and osteocalcin (OCN). Bacterial by-products have been shown to adversely affect cell differentiation. This study investigated the effect of P. gingivalis, a putative endodontic pathogen, and blockage of its host recognition on hDPSCs. Stimulated hDPSCs were exposed to varying concentrations of P. gingivalis by-product and gene expression of DSPP and OCN was measured. Cells were exposed to TLR2 blocking agents prior to exposure to the by-product. P. gingivalis affected dose-dependent suppression of the measured gene expression. Blockade of TLR2 inhibited the by-product derived suppression of gene expression. The immune-potential of by-product was confirmed to be detrimental to the differentiation of hDPSCs, and this effect could be moderated by TLR2-blockade.

Este estudo translacional avaliou o efeito da aplicação direta de materiais capeadores à base de óleo de copaíba sobre a polpa dentária de ratos. O biomaterial foi analisado de acordo com os processos inflamatórios, reparadores e regenerativos. Cavidades classe I foram preparadas na face oclusal dos molares superiores e inferiores de ratos da linhagem Wistar (n=120). Posteriormente, uma cavidade padronizada foi realizada com broca carbide esférica ¼. Exposições pulpares foram obtidas e após a hemostasia com algodão estéril e água destilada, foi realizado o capeamento pulpar com aplicação de biomateriais diretamente no tecido pulpar. Os biomateriais utilizados foram: COP (Óleo de Copaíba); Ca(OH)2 (hidróxido de cálcio), Ca(OH)2+COP; MTA (agregado trióxido mineral); MTA+COP; BIODENTINA (Biodentine®); BIODENTINA+COP. Todas as cavidades foram restauradas com cimento provisório. Os animais foram sacrificados após o período de 7, 14, 28 dias de acordo com os princípios de ética e experimentação animal. Vinte e um grupos foram criados a partir da combinação de tempos e materiais, cada grupo foi constituído de 5 animais. As peças foram preparadas e processadas pela técnica histológica e coradas pela HE (hemotoxilina e eosina) realizando cortes aleatórios, sendo analisados ao microscópio óptico em 100X de aumento por 2 examinadores. Os critérios avaliados foram: respostas inflamatória e degenerativa, organização tecidual, dentina reacional e reparativa. No último tempo experimental (28 dias) de todos os grupos foi analisado a superfície (mm2) e o volume (mm3) da ponte de dentina formada pela técnica da micro-CT (microtomografia computadorizada) de alta resolução. Os dados foram estatisticamente analisados utilizando o teste T pareado, determinando a superfície e volume da dentina reparadora formada entre os grupos experimentais. Nas análises histológicas foi utilizado o teste não-paramétrico de Mann-Whitney realizando comparações entre os grupos (?=5%). A BIODENTINA demonstrou uma tendência de acelerar o processo de regeneração pulpar, iniciando a deposição de dentina reparativa ao sétimo dia do capeamento. Este material apresentou uma dentina mais espessa em comparação com os outros biomateriais. O MTA também demonstrou uma eficiência na formação da ponte dentinária, entretanto em 20% das amostras não foi observada a presença de dentina reparadora. Ao acrescentar o COP nestes materiais, a formação da ponte dentinária apresentava heterogênea e incompleta, além disso esses grupos continham um processo inflamatório aumentado. A dentina reparadora do grupo de Ca(OH)2 demonstrou presença de túnel, com característica heterogênea. A adição do COP ao Ca(OH)2 aumentou a formação de dentina nas paredes ao redor da câmara pulpar em 80% das amostras, porém esta dentina não apresentava melhora na qualidade. Desta forma, o capeamento pulpar com COP isolado ou associado a Ca(OH)2, MTA e BIODENTINA não formou uma ponte de dentina completa e homogênea no local da exposição pulpar. / This translational study evaluated the effect of the direct application of copaiba oil based capping materials on the rat pulp. The biomaterial was analyzed according to inflammatory, repairing and regenerative processes. Class I cavities were prepared on the occlusal surface of the upper and lower molars of Wistar rats (n = 120). Subsequently, standardized cavities was performed with ¼ spherical carbide drill. Pulp exposures were obtained and after their hemostasis with sterile cotton and distilled water, pulp capping was done with application of biomaterials directly on the pulp tissue. The biomaterials used were: COP (Copaíba oil); Ca(OH)2 (calcium hydroxide), Ca(OH)2+COP; MTA (aggregate mineral trioxide); MTA+COP; BIODENTINE (Biodentine®); BIODENTINA+COP. All cavities were restored with temporary cement. The animals were sacrificed after the period of 7, 14, 28 days according to the principles of ethics and animal experimentation. Twenty-one groups were created from the combination of times and materials, each group consisted of 5 animals. The specimens were prepared and processed by histological technique and stained by HE (haemotoxin and eosin); randomized cuts were examined under optical microscope with 100X enlargement by two different examiners. The evaluated criteria were inflammatory and degenerative response, tissue organization, reactive and reparative dentin. In the last experimental period (28 days) of all groups, the surface (mm2) and the volume (mm3) of the reactive and reparative dentin formed were analyzed by the high-resolution micro-CT (computerized microtomography) technique. The data were statistically analyzed using the paired T-test, determining the surface and volume of the reparative dentin formed between the experimental groups. In the histological analyzes, the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test was used, comparing groups (? = 5%). BIODENTINE demonstrated a tendency to accelerate the process of pulpal regeneration, initiating the deposition of reparative dentin on the seventh day of the capping. This material had a thicker dentin compared to the other biomaterials. The MTA also demonstrated an efficiency in the formation of the dentin bridge; however, 20% of the samples did not observe the presence of reparative dentin. When adding the COP in these materials, the formation of the dentin bridge was heterogeneous and incomplete, in addition these groups contained an increased inflammatory process. The repair dentin of the Ca(OH)2 group showed a tunnel with a heterogeneous characteristic. The addition of COP to Ca(OH)2 increased dentin formation in the walls around the pulp chamber in 80% of the samples, but this dentin did not show improvement in quality. Thus, pulp cap with COP isolated or associated with Ca(OH)2, MTA and BIODENTINE did not form a complete and homogeneous dentin bridge at the site of pulp exposure.

Background The revitalization or regeneration of the dental pulp is a preferable goal in current endodontic research. In this study, human dental pulp cell (DPC) spheres were applied to human root canal samples to evaluate their potential adoption for physiological tissue-like regeneration of the dental root canal by odontoblastic differentiation as well as cell-induced mineral formation. Methods DPC were cultivated into three-dimensional cell spheres and seeded on human root canal specimens. The evaluation of sphere formation, tissue-like behavior and differentiation as well as mineral formation of the cells was carried out with the aid of optical light microscopy, immunohistochemical staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results Spheres and cells migrated out of the spheres showed an intense cell-cell- and cell-dentin-contact with the formation of extra cellular matrix. In addition, the ingrowth of cell processes into dentinal tubules and the interaction of cell processes with the tubule walls were detected by SEM-imaging. Immunohistochemical staining of the odontoblast specific matrix proteins, dentin matrix protein-1, and dentin sialoprotein revealed an odontoblast-like cell differentiation in contact with the dentin surface. This differentiation was confirmed by SEM-imaging of cells with an odontoblast specific phenotype and cell induced mineral formation. Conclusions The results of the present study reveal the high potential of pulp cells organized in spheres for dental tissue engineering. The odontoblast-like differentiation and the cell induced mineral formation display the possibility of a complete or partial “dentinal filling” of the root canal and the opportunity to combine this method with other current strategies.

Este estudo translacional avaliou o efeito da aplicação direta de materiais capeadores à base de óleo de copaíba sobre a polpa dentária de ratos. O biomaterial foi analisado de acordo com os processos inflamatórios, reparadores e regenerativos. Cavidades classe I foram preparadas na face oclusal dos molares superiores e inferiores de ratos da linhagem Wistar (n=120). Posteriormente, uma cavidade padronizada foi realizada com broca carbide esférica ¼. Exposições pulpares foram obtidas e após a hemostasia com algodão estéril e água destilada, foi realizado o capeamento pulpar com aplicação de biomateriais diretamente no tecido pulpar. Os biomateriais utilizados foram: COP (Óleo de Copaíba); Ca(OH)2 (hidróxido de cálcio), Ca(OH)2+COP; MTA (agregado trióxido mineral); MTA+COP; BIODENTINA (Biodentine®); BIODENTINA+COP. Todas as cavidades foram restauradas com cimento provisório. Os animais foram sacrificados após o período de 7, 14, 28 dias de acordo com os princípios de ética e experimentação animal. Vinte e um grupos foram criados a partir da combinação de tempos e materiais, cada grupo foi constituído de 5 animais. As peças foram preparadas e processadas pela técnica histológica e coradas pela HE (hemotoxilina e eosina) realizando cortes aleatórios, sendo analisados ao microscópio óptico em 100X de aumento por 2 examinadores. Os critérios avaliados foram: respostas inflamatória e degenerativa, organização tecidual, dentina reacional e reparativa. No último tempo experimental (28 dias) de todos os grupos foi analisado a superfície (mm2) e o volume (mm3) da ponte de dentina formada pela técnica da micro-CT (microtomografia computadorizada) de alta resolução. Os dados foram estatisticamente analisados utilizando o teste T pareado, determinando a superfície e volume da dentina reparadora formada entre os grupos experimentais. Nas análises histológicas foi utilizado o teste não-paramétrico de Mann-Whitney realizando comparações entre os grupos (?=5%). A BIODENTINA demonstrou uma tendência de acelerar o processo de regeneração pulpar, iniciando a deposição de dentina reparativa ao sétimo dia do capeamento. Este material apresentou uma dentina mais espessa em comparação com os outros biomateriais. O MTA também demonstrou uma eficiência na formação da ponte dentinária, entretanto em 20% das amostras não foi observada a presença de dentina reparadora. Ao acrescentar o COP nestes materiais, a formação da ponte dentinária apresentava heterogênea e incompleta, além disso esses grupos continham um processo inflamatório aumentado. A dentina reparadora do grupo de Ca(OH)2 demonstrou presença de túnel, com característica heterogênea. A adição do COP ao Ca(OH)2 aumentou a formação de dentina nas paredes ao redor da câmara pulpar em 80% das amostras, porém esta dentina não apresentava melhora na qualidade. Desta forma, o capeamento pulpar com COP isolado ou associado a Ca(OH)2, MTA e BIODENTINA não formou uma ponte de dentina completa e homogênea no local da exposição pulpar. / This translational study evaluated the effect of the direct application of copaiba oil based capping materials on the rat pulp. The biomaterial was analyzed according to inflammatory, repairing and regenerative processes. Class I cavities were prepared on the occlusal surface of the upper and lower molars of Wistar rats (n = 120). Subsequently, standardized cavities was performed with ¼ spherical carbide drill. Pulp exposures were obtained and after their hemostasis with sterile cotton and distilled water, pulp capping was done with application of biomaterials directly on the pulp tissue. The biomaterials used were: COP (Copaíba oil); Ca(OH)2 (calcium hydroxide), Ca(OH)2+COP; MTA (aggregate mineral trioxide); MTA+COP; BIODENTINE (Biodentine®); BIODENTINA+COP. All cavities were restored with temporary cement. The animals were sacrificed after the period of 7, 14, 28 days according to the principles of ethics and animal experimentation. Twenty-one groups were created from the combination of times and materials, each group consisted of 5 animals. The specimens were prepared and processed by histological technique and stained by HE (haemotoxin and eosin); randomized cuts were examined under optical microscope with 100X enlargement by two different examiners. The evaluated criteria were inflammatory and degenerative response, tissue organization, reactive and reparative dentin. In the last experimental period (28 days) of all groups, the surface (mm2) and the volume (mm3) of the reactive and reparative dentin formed were analyzed by the high-resolution micro-CT (computerized microtomography) technique. The data were statistically analyzed using the paired T-test, determining the surface and volume of the reparative dentin formed between the experimental groups. In the histological analyzes, the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test was used, comparing groups (? = 5%). BIODENTINE demonstrated a tendency to accelerate the process of pulpal regeneration, initiating the deposition of reparative dentin on the seventh day of the capping. This material had a thicker dentin compared to the other biomaterials. The MTA also demonstrated an efficiency in the formation of the dentin bridge; however, 20% of the samples did not observe the presence of reparative dentin. When adding the COP in these materials, the formation of the dentin bridge was heterogeneous and incomplete, in addition these groups contained an increased inflammatory process. The repair dentin of the Ca(OH)2 group showed a tunnel with a heterogeneous characteristic. The addition of COP to Ca(OH)2 increased dentin formation in the walls around the pulp chamber in 80% of the samples, but this dentin did not show improvement in quality. Thus, pulp cap with COP isolated or associated with Ca(OH)2, MTA and BIODENTINE did not form a complete and homogeneous dentin bridge at the site of pulp exposure.

Background The revitalization or regeneration of the dental pulp is a preferable goal in current endodontic research. In this study, human dental pulp cell (DPC) spheres were applied to human root canal samples to evaluate their potential adoption for physiological tissue-like regeneration of the dental root canal by odontoblastic differentiation as well as cell-induced mineral formation. Methods DPC were cultivated into three-dimensional cell spheres and seeded on human root canal specimens. The evaluation of sphere formation, tissue-like behavior and differentiation as well as mineral formation of the cells was carried out with the aid of optical light microscopy, immunohistochemical staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results Spheres and cells migrated out of the spheres showed an intense cell-cell- and cell-dentin-contact with the formation of extra cellular matrix. In addition, the ingrowth of cell processes into dentinal tubules and the interaction of cell processes with the tubule walls were detected by SEM-imaging. Immunohistochemical staining of the odontoblast specific matrix proteins, dentin matrix protein-1, and dentin sialoprotein revealed an odontoblast-like cell differentiation in contact with the dentin surface. This differentiation was confirmed by SEM-imaging of cells with an odontoblast specific phenotype and cell induced mineral formation. Conclusions The results of the present study reveal the high potential of pulp cells organized in spheres for dental tissue engineering. The odontoblast-like differentiation and the cell induced mineral formation display the possibility of a complete or partial “dentinal filling” of the root canal and the opportunity to combine this method with other current strategies.