Changes in the Homeostatic Mechanism of Dental Pulp with Age: Expression of the Core-binding Factor Alpha-1, Dentin Sialoprotein, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, and Heat Shock Protein 27 Messenger RNAs

Dental pulp has various characteristics in the pulp chamber, but only a few biological evaluations about the effect of age on dental pulp tissue have been reported. The purpose of this study was to compare dental pulp from young and adult rats to characterize the homeostatic mechanism. Dental pulp cells (DPCs) were obtained from the first molar of rats, weighing 150 g each for the young group and 350 g each for the adult group. The expression of core-binding factor alpha-1 (Cbfa-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), or heat shock protein (HSP) 27 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) by cultured pulp cells was determined by using a quantitative real-time PCR system after 3, 7, or 14 days. The expression of Cbfa-1 mRNA in the young group was higher than in the adult group. Expression of VEGF and HSP27 mRNAs in the adult group was higher than in the young group. The self-defense system in young DPCs is undertaken by calcification, but in adult DPCs it is carried out by the expression of self-defense proteins and the regeneration of vessels.