Genetic Control of GCF Exudation: Innate Immunity Genes and Periodontitis Susceptibility.

Chronic periodontitis is a bacterial infection associated with dentally adherent biofilm (plaque) accumulation and age-related comorbidities. The disease begins as an inflammatory exudate from gingival margins, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in response to biofilm lysine. After a week of experimental gingivitis (no oral hygiene), biofilm lysine concentration was linearly related to biofilm accumulation (plaque index) but to GCF as an arch-shaped double curve which separated 9 strong from 6 weak GCF responders (hosts).

The Wisdom in Teeth: Neuronal Differentiation of Dental Pulp Cells.

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are found in almost all postnatal organs. Under appropriate environmental cues, multipotency enables MSCs to serve as progenitors for several lineage-specific, differentiated cell types. expansion and differentiation of MSCs give the opportunity to obtain hardly available somatic cells, such as neurons.

Prolactin-Releasing Peptide Contributes to Stress-Related Mood Disorders and Inhibits Sleep/Mood Regulatory Melanin-Concentrating Hormone Neurons in Rats.

Stress disorders impair sleep and quality of life; however, their pathomechanisms are unknown. Prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) is a stress mediator; we therefore hypothesized that PrRP may be involved in the development of stress disorders. PrRP is produced by the medullary A1/A2 noradrenaline (NA) cells, which transmit stress signals to forebrain centers, and by non-NA cells in the hypothalamic dorsomedial nucleus.

Analysis of Three-Dimensional Cell Migration in Dopamine-Modified Poly(aspartic acid)-Based Hydrogels.

Several types of promising cell-based therapies for tissue regeneration have been developing worldwide. However, for successful therapeutical application of cells in this field, appropriate scaffolds are also required. Recently, the research for suitable scaffolds has been focusing on polymer hydrogels due to their similarity to the extracellular matrix.

Culturing and Scaling up Stem Cells of Dental Pulp Origin Using Microcarriers.

Ectomesenchymal stem cells derived from the dental pulp are of neural crest origin, and as such are promising sources for cell therapy and tissue engineering. For safe upscaling of these cells, microcarrier-based culturing under dynamic conditions is a promising technology. We tested the suitability of two microcarriers, non-porous Cytodex 1 and porous Cytopore 2, for culturing well characterized dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) using a shake flask system.

Three-Dimensional Culture of Ameloblast-Originated HAT-7 Cells for Functional Modeling of Defective Tooth Enamel Formation.

Amelogenesis, the formation of dental enamel, is well understood at the histomorphological level but the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly characterized. Ameloblasts secrete enamel matrix proteins and Ca, and also regulate extracellular pH as the formation of hydroxyapatite crystals generates large quantities of protons. Genetic or environmental impairment of transport and regulatory processes (e.

A comprehensive time course and correlation analysis of indomethacin-induced inflammation, bile acid alterations and dysbiosis in the rat small intestine.

It has been proposed that changes in microbiota due to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alter the composition of bile, and elevation of hydrophobic secondary bile acids contributes to small intestinal damage. However, little is known about the effect of NSAIDs on small intestinal bile acids, and whether bile alterations correlate with mucosal injury and dysbiosis. Here we determined the ileal bile acid metabolome and microbiota 24, 48 and 72 h after indomethacin treatment, and their correlation with each other and with tissue damage in rats.

TRPM7-Mediated Calcium Transport in HAT-7 Ameloblasts.

TRPM7 plays an important role in cellular Ca, Zn and Mg homeostasis. TRPM7 channels are abundantly expressed in ameloblasts and, in the absence of TRPM7, dental enamel is hypomineralized. The potential role of TRPM7 channels in Ca transport during amelogenesis was investigated in the HAT-7 rat ameloblast cell line.

STRO-1 positive cell expansion during osteogenic differentiation: A comparative study of three mesenchymal stem cell types of dental origin.

Objective: Although the osteogenic differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells of dental origin is well established, the roles of different marker proteins in this process remain to be clarified. Our aim was to compare the cellular and molecular changes, focusing in particular on mesenchymal stem cell markers, during in vitro osteogenesis in three dental stem cell types: dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs), periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs).

Design: Human DFSCs, PDLSCs and DPSCs were isolated, cultured and their osteogenic differentiation was induced for 3 weeks.

Bioenergetic Impairment of Triethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate- (TEGDMA-) Treated Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) and Isolated Brain Mitochondria are Amended by Redox Compound Methylene Blue .

Background: Triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) monomers released from resin matrix are toxic to dental pulp cells, induce apoptosis, oxidative stress and decrease viability. Recently, mitochondrial complex I (CI) was identified as a potential target of TEGDMA. In isolated mitochondria supported by CI, substrates oxidation and ATP synthesis were inhibited, reactive oxygen species production was stimulated.

Functional and cell surface characteristics of periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) on RGD-synthetic polypeptide conjugate coatings.

Background And Objective: Periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) are an important source for periodontal tissue healing and regeneration. Proper cell adhesion is a key for survival of anchorage-dependent cells and also initiates further intracellular signals for essential cellular functions. We aimed to test 3 different synthetic conjugates with integrin-binding RGD sequence (SAK-c[RGDfC], AK-c[RGDfC], and SAK-opn on the adhesion of human PDLCs and subsequent events including proliferation, migration, behavior of cell surface molecules, and osteogenic differentiation.

No Change in Bicarbonate Transport but Tight-Junction Formation Is Delayed by Fluoride in a Novel Ameloblast Model.

We have recently developed a novel model using HAT-7 rat ameloblast cells to functionally study epithelial ion transport during amelogenesis. Our present aims were to identify key transporters of bicarbonate in HAT-7 cells and also to examine the effects of fluoride exposure on vectorial bicarbonate transport, cell viability, and the development of transepithelial resistance. To obtain monolayers, the HAT-7 cells were cultured on Transwell permeable filters.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells of Dental Origin-Their Potential for Antiinflammatory and Regenerative Actions in Brain and Gut Damage.

Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain and spinal cord injury and neuroinflammatory multiple sclerosis are diverse disorders of the central nervous system. However, they are all characterized by various levels of inappropriate inflammatory/immune response along with tissue destruction. In the gastrointestinal system, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is also a consequence of tissue destruction resulting from an uncontrolled inflammation.

Evidence for Active Electrolyte Transport by Two-Dimensional Monolayers of Human Salivary Epithelial Cells.

Functional reconstruction of lost tissue by regenerative therapy of salivary glands would be of immense benefit following radiotherapy or in the treatment of Sjogren's syndrome. The purpose of this study was to develop primary cultures of human salivary gland cells as potential regenerative resources and to characterize their acinar/ductal phenotype using electrophysiological measurements of ion transport. Human salivary gland cultures were prepared either from adherent submandibular gland cells (huSMG) or from mixed adherent and nonadherent cells (PTHSG) and were cultivated in Hepato-STIM or minimum essential medium (MEM).

Function and repair of dental enamel - Potential role of epithelial transport processes of ameloblasts.

The hardest mammalian tissue, dental enamel is produced by ameloblasts, which are electrolyte-transporting epithelial cells. Although the end product is very different, they show many similarities to transporting epithelia of the pancreas, salivary glands and kidney. Enamel is produced in a multi-step epithelial secretory process that features biomineralization which is an interplay of secreted ameloblast specific proteins and the time-specific transport of minerals, protons and bicarbonate.

[ParC-10 cells for modelling parotid gland tissue reorganization].

Salivary gland hypofunction, which may occur in head and neck cancers following therapeutic irradiation or in Sjogren's syndrome, drastically impair the patient's quality of life. Conventional treatments do not provide a satisfactory solution to the problem, therefore it is becoming increasingly urgent to develop completely new management approaches in particular, the challenge of restoring the function of acini. Many biologically based interventions studied, thus "reprogramming" with gene therapy of survivor ducts or regeneration potential of progenitor cells in the salivary gland.

Chronic inflammation in the pancreas and salivary glands--lessons from similarities and differences in pathophysiology and treatment modalities.

The pancreas and salivary glands have similar anatomical structures and physiological functions producing bicarbonate-rich fluid containing digestive enzymes and other components to be delivered into the gut. Despite these similarities, the two organs are also different in numerous respects, especially regarding the inflammatory diseases affecting them. This article will summarize the pathophysiology and current and potential pharmacological treatments of chronic inflammatory diseases such as chronic pancreatitis, autoimmune pancreatitis, Sjögren's syndrome and irradiation-induced salivary gland atrophy.

Changes in metabolic-related variables during chronic morphine treatment.

To reveal neuroendocrine/neurochemical changes that are responsible for the robust metabolic alterations seen during chronic morphine treatment we followed hormonal-, transcriptional- and behavioral changes during chronic morphine administration in adult male Wistar rats. Animals were implanted with increasing amount of slow release morphine tablets for 8 days. Morphine treated animals gain significantly less weight than placebo implanted controls.

Induction of FosB/DeltaFosB in the brain stress system-related structures during morphine dependence and withdrawal.

The transcription factor DeltaFosB is induced in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) by drugs of abuse. This study was designed to evaluate the possible modifications in FosB/DeltaFosB expression in both hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic brain stress system during morphine dependence and withdrawal. Rats were made dependent on morphine and, on day 8, were injected with saline or naloxone.

Elevated glucocorticoid levels are responsible for induction of tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA expression, phosphorylation, and enzyme activity in the nucleus of the solitary tract during morphine withdrawal.

Chronic opiate exposure induces neurochemical adaptations in the noradrenergic system. Enhanced responsiveness of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis after morphine withdrawal has been associated with hyperactivity of ascending noradrenergic input from the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS-A(2)) cell group to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). This study addressed the role of morphine withdrawal-induced corticosterone (CORT) release in regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme of catecholamine biosynthesis in adrenalectomized (ADX) rats supplemented with low CORT pellet (ADX plus CORT).

Activation of stress-related hypothalamic neuropeptide gene expression during morphine withdrawal.

Morphine withdrawal results in serious affective and somatic symptoms including activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. To reveal secretory, activational and transcriptional changes in the hypothalamus of morphine-dependent rats during naloxone precipitated opioid withdrawal, we measured corticosterone secretion, c-Fos induction and heteronuclear (hn)RNA levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) in naïve and morphine dependent animals injected with saline or 5 mg/kg naloxone. Naloxone precipitated morphine withdrawal resulted in a significant increase in corticosterone secretion and induction of neuronal activation in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVH) 2 h after challenge.

Effects of repeated restraint stress on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical function in vasopressin deficient Brattleboro rats.

Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) has been proposed to be an important mediator during chronic stress in the regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. In the present study we addressed the role of AVP in maintaining adrenocortical responsiveness during chronic stress using the AVP deficient mutant Brattleboro rat. Heterozygous Brattleboro rats (di/+) served as controls and were compared to homozygous rats (di/di) with diabetes insipidus.

Hyperleptinemia, visceral adiposity, and decreased glucose tolerance in mice with a targeted disruption of the histidine decarboxylase gene.

Histamine has been referred to as an anorexic factor that decreases appetite and fat accumulation and affects feeding behavior. Tuberomammillary histaminergic neurons have been implicated in central mediation of peripheral metabolic signals such as leptin, and centrally released histamine inhibits ob gene expression. Here we have characterized the metabolic phenotype of mice that completely lack the ability to produce histamine because of targeted disruption of the key enzyme in histamine biosynthesis (histidine decarboxylase, HDC).