Conclusions
P75+EMSCs showed more odonto-differentiation potential than P75-EMSCs both in vivo and in vitro. Smad4 played a critical role in determination of odonto-differentiation potential of CNC-derived EMSCs.
Methods
Primary cranial neural crest-derived cells (CNC) were isolated from the first branchial arches, and P75+EMSCs and P75-EMSCs were sorted by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Differentiation of P75+EMSCs or P75-EMSCs into odontoblast-like cells was induced by dental epithelial cells in vitro or in vivo. Differential gene expression profiles between P75+EMSCs and P75-EMSCs were analysed by microarray assay. Smad4-specific small interfering RNA and activator kartogenin were used to treat the cells, to evaluate effects of Smad4 in odonto-differentiation of P75+EMSCs or P75-EMSCs.
Results
Under induction of dental epithelium conditioned medium, P75+EMSCs had more mineralized node formation and higher expression of Dmp1 and Dspp compared to P75-EMSCs. In our in vivo study, graft of P75+EMSCs recombination with dental epithelium showed higher expression of DMP1 and DSP. Knock-down of Smad4 in P75+EMSCs significantly downregulated expression of DMP1 and DSP, while activation of Smad4 in P75-EMSCs by the activator kartogenin, significantly increased DSP and DMP1 expression. Conclusions: P75+EMSCs showed more odonto-differentiation potential than P75-EMSCs both in vivo and in vitro. Smad4 played a critical role in determination of odonto-differentiation potential of CNC-derived EMSCs.