Genetic information such as DNA sequences has been limited to fully explain mechanisms of gene regulation and disease process. Epigenetic mechanisms, which include DNA methylation, histone modification and non-coding RNAs, can regulate gene expression and affect progression of disease. Although studies focused on epigenetics are being actively investigated in the field of medicine and biology, epigenetics in dental research is at the early stages. However, studies on epigenetics in dentistry deserve attention because epigenetic mechanisms play important roles in gene expression during tooth development and may affect oral diseases. In addition, understanding of epigenetic alteration is important for developing new therapeutic methods. This review article aims to outline the general features of epigenetic mechanisms and describe its future implications in the field of dentistry.

This study investigated the changes in gene expression when mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) was applied in vitro to human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). MTA in a teflon tube (diameter 10 mm, height 2 mm) was applied to HDPCs. Empty tube-applied HDPCs were used as negative control. For microarray analysis, total RNA was extracted at 6, 24, and 72 hrs after MTA application. The results were confirmed selectively by performing reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for genes that showed changes of more than two-fold or less than half. Of the 24,546 genes, 109 genes were up-regulated greater than two-fold (e.g., FOSB, THBS1, BHLHB2, EDN1, IL11, FN1, COL10A1, and TUFT1) and 69 genes were down-regulated below 50% (e.g., SMAD6 and DCN). These results suggest that MTA, rather than being a bio-inert material, may have potential to affect the proliferation and differentiation of pulp cells in various ways.

The purpose of this study was to characterize functional distinction between human dental pulp cells(PC) and periodontal ligament cells(PDLC) using cDNA microarray assay and to confirm the results of the microarray assay using RT-PCR. 3 genes out of 51 genes which were found to be more expressed(>2 fold) in PC were selected, and 3 genes out of 19 genes which were found to be more expressed(>2 fold) in PDLC were selected for RT-PCR as well.

According to this study, the results were as follows:

1. From the microarray assay, 51 genes were more expressed (2 fold) from PC than PDLC.

2. RT-PCR confirmed that ITGA4 and TGF β2 were more expressed in PC than in PDLC.

3. From the microarray assay, 19 genes were more expressed (2 fold) from PDLC than PC.

4. RT-PCR confirmed that LUM, WISP1, and MMP1 were more expressed in PDLC than in PC.

From the present study, different expression of the genes between the PC and PDLC were characterized to show the genes which play an important role in dentinogenesis were more expressed from PC than PDLC, while the genes which were related with collagen synthesis were more expressed from PDLC than PC.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the response of human pulp cell on Portland cement mixed with β-glycerophosphate. To investigate the effect of β-glycerophosphate and/or dexamethasone on human pulp cell, ALP activity on various concentration of β-glycerophosphate and dexamethasone was measured and mineral nodule of human pulp cell was stained with Alizarin red S. MTS assay and ALP activity of human pulp cell on Portland cement mixed with various concentration of β-glycerophosphate (10 mM, 100mM, 1M) was measured and the specimens were examined under SEM.

Addition of β-glycerophosphate or dexamethasone alone had no effect however, the addition of 5 mM β-glycerophosphate and 100 nM dexamethasone had the largest increasement in ALP activity. There was no toxicity in all samples and the data showed that Portland cement mixed with 10 mM β-glycerophosphate had more increase in ALP activity compared with control.

In conclusion, Portland cement mixed with β-glycerophosphate has no toxicity and promotes differentiation and mineralization of pulp cell compared with additive-free Portland cement. This implicated that application of Portland cement mixed with β-glycerophosphate might form more reparative dentin and in turn it would bring direct pulp capping to success.

Dental pulp is a loose, mesenchymal tissue almost entirely enclosed in the dentin. It consists of cells, ground substance, and neural and vascular supplies. Damage to the dental pulp by mechanical, chemical, thermal, and microbial irritants can provoke various types of inflammatory response. Pulpal inflammation leads to the tissue degradation, which is mediated in part by Matrix metalloproteinase leads to accelerate extracellular matrix degradation with pathological pathway. We have now investigated the induction of MMPs and inflammatory cytokines by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) control of inflammatory mediators by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs).

Human dental pulp cells exposed to various concentrations of LPS (1-10 µg/ml) revealed elevated levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 at 24 hrs of culture. LPS also stimulated the production of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Adenovirus PPARγ (Ad/PPARγ) and PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone reduced the synthesis of MMPs, adhesion molecules and pro-inflammatory cytokines. The inhibitory effect of Ad/PPARγ was higher than that of PPARγ agonist.

These result offer new insights in regard to the anti-inflammatory potential of PPARγ in human dental pulp cell.

The purpose of this study was to regenerate human dental pulp tissues similar to native pulp tissues. Using the mixture of type I collagen solution, primary cells collected from the different tissues (pulp, gingiva, and skin) and NIH 3T3 (1 × 10⁵ cells/ml/well) were cultured at 12-well plate at 37℃ for 14 days. Standardized photographs were taken with digital camera during 14 days and the diameter of the contracted collagen gel matrix was measured and statistically analyzed with student t-test. As one of the pulp tissue engineering, normal human dental pulp tissue and collagen gel matrix cultured with dental pulp cells for 14 days were fixed and stained with Hematoxyline & Eosin.

According to this study, the results were as follows:

1. The contraction of collagen gel matrix cultured with pulp cells for 14 days was significantly higher than other fibroblasts (gingiva, skin) (p < 0.05).

2. The diameter of collagen gel matrix cultured with pulp cells was reduced to 70.4% after 7 days, and 57.1% after 14 days.

3. The collagen gel without any cells did not contract, whereas the collagen gel cultured with gingiva and skin showed mild contraction after 14 days (88.1% and 87.6% respectively).

4. The contraction of the collagen gel cultured with NIH 3T3 cells after 14 days was higher than those cultured with gingival and skin fibroblasts, but it was not statistically significant (72.1%, p > 0.05).

5. The collagen gel matrix cultured with pulp cells for 14 days showed similar shape with native pulp tissue without blood vessels.

This approach may provide a means of engineering a variety of other oral tissue as well and these cell behaviors may provide information needed to establish pulp tissue engineering protocols.