Elucidation of neurotransmission mechanisms from odontoblasts by ATP

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26462791
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Morphological basic dentistry
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: Goto Tetsuya 鹿児島大学, 医歯学域歯学系, 教授 (70253458)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 象牙芽細胞 / アデノシン３リン酸 / VNUT / 温熱刺激

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study the exact signaling mechanism from odontoblasts to pulp nerves remains to be clarified. we focused on the vesicular nucleotide transporter (VNUT), a transporter of ATP into vesicles, and examined whether VNUT was involved in ATP release from odontoblasts. ATP release from cultured odontoblast like cells with heat stimulation was observed. VNUT was expressed in pulp tissue, and the distribution of VNUT-immunopositive vesicles was confirmed in odontoblasts. In odontoblasts, some VNUT-immunopositive vesicles were colocalized with membrane fusion proteins. Additionally P2X3, an ATP receptor, immunopositive axons were distributed between odontoblasts. The ATP release by thermal stimulation from odontoblast-like cells was inhibited by the addition of siRNA for VNUT. These findings suggest that cytosolic ATP is transported by VNUT and that the ATP in the vesicles is then released from odontoblasts to ATP receptors on axons.

Free Research Field

口腔組織学