Establishment of new method of regeneration therapy using Oxytocin

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K21073
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Meikai University
• Principal Investigator: KATO Yuka 明海大学, 歯学部, 助教 (10906697)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Oxytocin / Odontoblast / Dentinogenesis / Dental pulp cell / Laser / Wnt signal

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Previous our studies have shown Odontoblasts express Oxytocin (OT) receptors, and OT promotes dentin formation via Wnt signaling pathway. On the other hand, laser irradiation increased the expression of OT receptors in cultured rat dental pulp cells. We attempted to develop a new vital pulp regeneration therapy using OT and laser irradiation. We found that the diode laser (LLLT) irradiated for cultured rat dental pulp cells increased the expression of OT receptors and accelerated the formation of dentin-like mineralized nodule. Furthermore, in order to determine the irradiation conditions that influence on the expression of OT receptors, we used bone tissue as well as dental pulp tissue and examined the effects of the laser irradiations on osteogenesis using various lasers with different wavelengths.

Free Research Field

保存治療学分野、歯内療法学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

超高齢社会における歯髄保護療法は健康寿命に対して重要な役割を果たす。すなわち自分の歯で咬合機能を維持するための保存療法の開発は我が国においても急務の課題と言える。本研究における幸せホルモンであるOTと臨床において多く使用されているレーザーに着目したことは、学術的にもユニークであり、本課題で得られた研究成果は、歯髄保存療法の開発に対して、OTとレーザーを応用するという新たなアイデアを投入することができ、今後の歯髄保護療法の開発に大いに貢献するものと考え、社会的な意義は大きいと考える。