RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To investigate the methods of induction of mouse embryonic stem cells to differentiate into odontoblast-like cells by co-culture with pulp fibroblast. METHODS: By suspension culture, embryonic stem cells were induced to form embryoid bodies. Then the cells from embryoid bodies were co-cultured with pulp fibroblast in Transwell system for differentiation toward odontoblast-like cells. RESULTS: By RT-PCR analysis, embryoid body cells gave rise to the cell population expressing DSPP, a specific odontoblast cell marker, after 10 days of co-culture with pulp fibroblast and the expression of DSPP was enhanced after 15 days of co-culture. On the other hand, the expression of DSPP was not detected in the isolately cultured embryoid body cells. CONCLUSIONS: Embryonic stem cells can be induced into odontoblast-like cells by co-culture with pulp fibroblast. Supported by Science and Technology Development Fund of Shanghai Municipality (Grant No. 03ZR14027).