| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3148708 | Journal of Endodontics | 2008 | 6 Pages |
Recent reports have suggested that the stromal cell–derived factor (SDF)-1α–CXCR4 axis has a direct effect on stem and progenitor cell recruitment in muscle and neural tissue repair after injury. No information is available about SDF-1α or CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in dental tissues. The aim of this study was to assess the expression of SDF-1α and its receptor, CXCR4, in healthy or inflamed human dental pulp and to evaluate the effects of SDF-1α on dental pulp cells (DPCs) in both proliferation and migration in vitro. Immunohistochemical staining and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction detected weak expression of SDF-1α and CXCR4 in healthy dental pulp and strong expression of SDF-1α and CXCR4 in inflamed dental pulp. A methylthiazol tetrazolium assay showed that SDF-1α could not promote DPCs proliferation. A transmigration assay, however, indicated that SDF-1α enhanced DPCs migration, which could be abolished by anti-CXCR4 antibodies. Taken together, these results imply that the SDF-1α–CXCR4 axis may play a role in the recruitment of CXCR4-positive DPCs toward the damaged sites.
