[Construction of tissue culture model in vitro and investigation of transforming growth factor promoting pulp fibroblast to differentiate into the odontoblast].

OBJECTIVE: To construct the tissue culture model in vitro, and investigate the potential of dental pulp fibroblast differentiating into the odontoblast and the promoting role of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) on it. METHODS: Human pulps were cultured for 3, 7, 14 and 21 days on bone matrix gelatin (BMG) in DMEM cultural medium supplemented with TGF-beta1. The characteristics of matrix were studied through toluidine blue and Mallory stain. Meanwhile, the expression of dentin salivary protein (DSP) on the pulp cells was investigated with immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: This experiment found that the pulp tissue in vitro were able to develop into more progressive stage, and some pulp fibroblast cells to differentiate into odontoblast-like cells. Toluidine blue and Mallory staining analysis revealed the localized deposition of mineralized bone-dentin matrix that was detected at the site of dental pulp cells. Immunohistochemical analysis proved that the DSP synthesized in these cells with the presence of TGF-beta1. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that this culture condition can maintain the phenotype of human pulp tissue. The model of organ culture is suitable to study the development of pulp tissue in vitro. TGF-beta1 can promote the potential of pulp cell into odontoblast, which provides an academic basis for tooth repair and regeneration.