Development of a novel therapy based on stem cell conversion of dental pulp cells

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K11600
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Prosthodontics/ Dental materials science and
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: MIYAGI Mayu 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(歯学域), 助教 (20625719)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 井上 美穂 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(歯学域), 助教 (20271059) ; 松香 芳三 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(歯学域), 教授 (90243477) ; 大野 充昭 岡山大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科, 准教授 (60613156)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 歯髄細胞 / TNF-α

Outline of Final Research Achievements

p38MAPK, TRAF1, and few others were detected in proteins obtained from TNF-α-stimulated dental pulp cells by antibody array.
TNF-α stimulation did not affect cell proliferation or morphology of bone marrow-derived cells (BMC), but increased expression of undifferentiated marker genes. TNF-α-stimulated and non-stimulated BMC were cultured in their respective induction medium. The expression of marker genes were compared using RT-PCR. BMC expression of osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and neurons were higher in the non-stimulated group, while no significant difference was observed for adipocyte markers. Bone differentiation tended to be temporarily delayed by short-term TNF-α stimulation, suggesting that the proportion of cells with stem cell properties may have increased.

Free Research Field

歯科補綴学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

TNF-αがBMCの未分化性獲得に関与し、幹細胞性質を保ったまま大量培養できる可能性が示されたことから、歯槽骨や神経の再生、骨折・抜歯窩の治癒促進への貢献が期待される。また、メカニズムを解明し、歯髄組織において人為的に象牙芽細胞の再活性化を促すことで、歯髄組織の再生、象牙質の再生に結びつけることが可能となれば、抜髄リスクの軽減やう蝕の抑制、歯の延命、さらには、健康寿命の延長につながると考えている。また、この技術が他の細胞でも応用できれば、今後再生医療における細胞材料としての幅を広げることができると考える。