Leptin stimulates DMP-1 and DSPP expression in human dental pulp via MAPK 1/3 and PI3K signaling pathways.
INTRODUCTION
To investigate the physiological function of leptin in human dental pulp, and to determine the specific pathways implicated in its effect.


METHODS
Twenty-seven dental pulp samples were obtained from human third molars. Pulp samples were treated with or without human recombinant leptin. Leptin functional effect was analyzed in terms of regulation of the synthesis levels of DSPP and DMP-1, determined by immunoblot.


RESULTS
Leptin stimulated DMP-1 and DSPP synthesis in all human dental pulp specimens. The stimulatory effect of leptin on DMP-1 and DSPP synthesis was partially prevented by blocking mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK 1/3) and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) pathways, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrates the functional effect of leptin in human dental pulp stimulating the expression of DMP-1 and DSPP, both proteins implicated in dentinogenesis. Leptin stimulates DSPP expression via PI3K pathway and DMP-1 synthesis via MAPK 1/3 pathway. These results support the role of leptin in pulpal reparative response, opening a new research line that could have translational application to the clinic in vital pulp therapy procedures.
['Martín-González|Jenifer|J|', 'Pérez-Pérez|Antonio|A|', 'Cabanillas-Balsera|Daniel|D|', 'Vilariño-García|Teresa|T|', 'Sánchez-Margalet|Victor|V|', 'Segura-Egea|Juan José|JJ|']
D000328:Adult D002454:Cell Differentiation D003782:Dental Pulp D003810:Dentinogenesis D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins D005786:Gene Expression Regulation D006801:Humans D053612:Janus Kinases D020738:Leptin D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 D008964:Molar, Third D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases D010750:Phosphoproteins D011994:Recombinant Proteins D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor D012795:Sialoglycoproteins D015398:Signal Transduction D055815:Young Adult
Leptin DMP-1 DSPP Dental pulp MAPK 1/3 Dentinogenesis Vital pulp therapy Dental pulp reparative response IP3K JAK-STAT