RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To compare the effect of serum starvation and culture to confluence on cell cycle synchronization and mineralization of human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). METHODS: HDPCs were cultured to 80% and 100% confluence respectively, and then cultured for 24, 48 and 72 hours by culture medium containing 0.5% fetal bovine serum(FBS). Cell cycle of hDPCs were identified by flow cytometry. Then hDPCs cultured by serum starvation for 48h after culturing to 100% confluence were used as the experimental group, and hDPCs cultured to 80% confluence were used as the control group. The expression of alkaline phosphatase(ALP), collagen type â (COL-â ) and osteocalcin(OCN) was detected at gene level; activity of ALPase was detected at protein level. SPSS 13.0 software was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: When hDPCs were cultured by serum starvation for 48h after culturing to 100% confluence, cells at G0/G1 stage were more than culture to 100% confluence and serum starvation group (Pï¼0.05). At the genetic level, the expression of COL-â and OC in the experimental group was not statistically different from that of the control group, but can promote the expression of ALP(Pï¼0.05), and stimulate the secretion of hDPCs at protein level at the same time (Pï¼0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Culture to confluence combined serum starvation can synchronize more hDPCs at G0/G1 stage and promote mineralization of hDPCs.