General expression profiles of human native odontoblasts and pulp-derived cultured odontoblast-like cells are similar but reveal differential neuropeptide expression levels

Cultured odontoblasts used in this study have similar general gene expression pattern to native odontoblasts, and therefore offer a valuable tool for the in vitro odontoblast studies. The expression of PTPRZ1 and galanin, which participate in sensory signal transduction, supports the previously suggested role of odontoblasts as sensory cells.