Role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 pathway in driving tricalcium silicate-induced proliferation and biomineralization of human dental pulp cells in vitro.
INTRODUCTION
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway in regulating tricalcium silicate (C3S)-driven proliferation and biomineralization of human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) in vitro.


METHODS
Human DPCs were cultured in C3S-containing medium and compared with untreated controls. Cell viability was measured by the methyl-thiazol-tetrazolium assay. Biomineralization was assessed by staining calcium deposits on the extracellular matrix with von Kossa and alizarin red S stains. Phosphorylated ERK1/2 was evaluated by immunoblotting. The ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 was used to assess the role of this pathway on stage of the cell cycle and mineralization-dependent gene expressions of hDPCs by using flow cytometry and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc test, with significance set at P < .05.


RESULTS
The viability and biomineralization of hDPCs were promoted by C3S extracts (P < .05). Phosphorylated ERK1/2 strongly appeared after hDPCs were cultured in the C3S extracts for 30 minutes. Moreover, inhibition of the ERK1/2 pathway in C3S-treated hDPCs decreased proliferation and the expression of mineralization-dependent genes, including collagen type I, dentin sialophosphoprotein, osteopontin, and osteocalcin (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
C3S stimulated the proliferation and biomineralization of hDPCs in vitro, with the ERK1/2 pathway playing a key role in the regulation of these effects.
['Du|Rong|R|', 'Wu|Tiantian|T|', 'Liu|Wenjuan|W|', 'Li|Lifen|L|', 'Jiang|Long|L|', 'Peng|Weiwei|W|', 'Chang|Jiang|J|', 'Zhu|Yaqin|Y|']
D000293:Adolescent D002070:Butadienes D002118:Calcium D017610:Calcium Compounds D018929:Cell Culture Techniques D049109:Cell Proliferation D002470:Cell Survival D002478:Cells, Cultured D024042:Collagen Type I D003782:Dental Pulp D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors D005109:Extracellular Matrix D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases D006801:Humans D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System D009570:Nitriles D015675:Osteocalcin D053495:Osteopontin D010750:Phosphoproteins D057872:Pulp Capping and Pulpectomy Agents D012795:Sialoglycoproteins D017640:Silicates D014074:Tooth Calcification D055815:Young Adult
extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 pathway proliferation Biomineralization human dental pulp cells tricalcium silicate