Soft tissue image reconstruction using cone-beam computed tomography combined with laser scanning: a novel method to evaluate the masticatory mucosa.

Objective: To construct a 3-D model of the masticatory mucosa to measure the thickness of the facial/lingual gingiva and palatal mucosa.

Study Design: Maxillofacial regions of 8 volunteers were scanned using cone-beam computed tomography to generate 3-D maxillary and mandibular models. Digital models were obtained by laser scanning of the impressions.

[Effects of hypergravity exposure after 30 days of simulated weightlessness on chemokine CCL20 and its receptor CCR6 in gingival tissue of rhesus macaque].

Purpose: To study the effect of hypergravity exposure after 30 days of simulated weightlessness on the expression of chemokine CCL20 and its receptor CCR6 in gingival tissue of rhesus macaque.

Methods: Twenty-three male rhesus monkeys were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely control group (A,n=3), weightlessness group (B,n=3), hypergravity group (C,n=3) and hypergravity exposure after 30 days of simulated weightlessness group (D, n=14). Group D was further divided into 4 subgroups according to the values of overload as: +11 Gx /270 s group (D1, n=3), +13 Gx /230 s group (D2,n=4), +15 Gx/200 s group (D3,n=4) and +13 Gx /230 s with 9 days of recovery group (D4, n=3).

[The effect of Smads signal pathway on the osteogenesis of human periodontal ligament stem cells in simulated microgravity].

Unlabelled: PUPOSE: To investigate the effect of Smads signal pathway on the osteogenesis of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) in simulated microgravity.

Methods: Human periodontal ligament stem cells were isolated from the ligament of surgically extracted human teeth.Through limiting dilution assay, mono-clone of the cell was obtained, hPDLSCs were isolated from MesenPRO RS medium.

Osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells expressing lentiviral NEL-like protein 1.

NEL-like protein 1 (NELL1) is a newly identified secreted protein involved in craniosynostosis and has been found to promote osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of NELL1 on osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) and the potential underlying mechanism. hPDLSCs underwent lentivirus-mediated NELL1 transfection (Lenti-NELL1) and markers of osteogenesis were assessed [alkaline phosphate (ALP), osteocalcin (OCN) and calcium deposition] to evaluate the effect of NELL1 on the differentiation of these cells.

[The effect of insulin-like growth factor-I on the proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity of human periodontal ligament cells under three-dimensional culture system].

Objective: To investigate the effect of insulin-like growth factor- I (IGF- I) on the proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) under three-dimensional (3D) culture system.

Methods: The hPDLCs were cultured from periodontium of human teeth by the outgrowth method. Rotary cell culture system (RCCS) was enrolled to set 3D culture system.

[Effect of insulin-like growth factor on the proliferation and early stage osteogenesis of human periodontal ligament stem cells under three-dimensional culture system].

Objective: To investigate the effect of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on the proliferation and osteogenesis of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLC) under three-dimensional (3D) culture system.

Methods: Human periodontal cells were isolated from the ligament of surgically extracted human teeth, and through the limiting dilution assay, got mono-clone of the cell, hPDLCs were isolated from MesenPRO RS medium. Rotary cell culture system (RCCS) was enrolled to set 3D environment.

[Protective effect of resveratrol on apoptosis of human periodontal ligament cells in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the effects of resveratrol (RES) on apoptosis of human periodontal ligament cells (HPLC).

Methods: HPLC were subjected to oxidative injury induced by H2O2 for 24 h after pretreatment with different concentration of RES. HPLC were then divided into the control, model, vector, RES 1, 10, 30, 50 micromol/L treatment group.

[Transcriptional regulation of dentin sialophosphoprotein by c-Jun/c-Fos].

Objective: To investigate the role of c-Jun and c-Fos as transcriptional factors in regulation of dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) gene by a promoter-luciferase reporter gene construct in odontoblast cell line MDPC-23.

Methods: Endogenous c-Jun or c-Fos protein was determined by immunocytochemistry. The role of c-Jun or c-Fos in transcription of DSPP was investigated in co-transfection experiments using promoter-luciferase reporter gene construct containing the sequence between -791 bp and +54 bp of mouse DSPP gene.

[Tissue engineering of dentin-pulp complex-like structures by human dental mesenchymal cells].

Objective: To establish three-dimensional culture model of human dental mesenchymal cells and bioengineer in vivo with ceramic bovine bone (CBB) and Collagraft as scaffolds.

Methods: Human dental mesenchymal cells induced upon stimulation of bFGF and IGF-1 or TGF-beta(1) were implanted onto CBB and Collagraft containing the same kinds of growth factors respectively. Then cell/scaffold constructs were transplanted into nude mice to establish in vivo culture model of dental mesenchymal cells.

Smad protein mediated transforming growth factor beta1 induction of apoptosis in the MDPC-23 odontoblast-like cell line.

Objective: The function of apoptosis and its regulation in odontoblasts remain unclear. In this study, we characterize the possible role of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 in the induction of apoptosis and the molecular mechanisms that mediate TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis in odontoblasts.

Methods: Annexin V/propidium iodide staining, cell Death Detection ELISA and DNA ladder were used to examine the effect of TGF-beta1 on apoptosis in a mouse odontoblast-like cell line, MDPC-23.

[Role of Smad signaling in transcription of Smad7 gene mediated by TGF-beta1 in odontoblast cell line MDPC-23].

Purpose: To investigate the role of Smad signaling in transcription of Smad7 gene mediated by TGF-beta1 in odontoblast cell line MDPC-23, and to explore the molecular mechanism of Smad7 gene expression mediated by TGF-beta1 at the transcriptional level.

Methods: Smad function and its role in transcription of Smad7 were investigated in cotransfection experiments using Smad7 promoter-luciferase reporter construct containing the sequence between -408 bp and +112 bp of mouse Smad7 gene. The data were analysed by one-way ANOVA.

[Bone morphogenetic protein-2-induced alpha 2 (I) collagen expression in odontoblastic MDPC-23 cells mediated by Smad proteins].

Objective: To characterize the role of Smads proteins in alpha 2 (I) collagen (COL1A2) gene expression induced by bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) in odontoblast cell line MDPC-23.

Methods: Endogenous Smad protein expression was determined by immunocytochemistry. Smads function and their role in COL1A2 gene expression were investigated in cotransfection experiments using promoter-luciferase reporter gene construct.

TGF-beta activated Smad signalling leads to a Smad3-mediated down-regulation of DSPP in an odontoblast cell line.

Objective: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) regulates odontoblast differentiation and stimulates dentine extracellular matrix synthesis. However, until recently, the molecular mechanisms of action of TGF-beta have been unknown. Smad proteins have recently been identified as intracellular signalling mediators of TGF-beta.

[Primary culture of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts by explants with enzymatic digestion].

Objective: To increase the success rate of primary culture of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPLF), and to establish an experimental model for studying HPLF in vitro.

Methods: The primary cells were isolated from human periodontal ligament by explants with enzymatic digestion method. Morphological analysis and immunocytochemical staining were used to characterize the cell lineage, and growth curve assay to evaluate the biological features of HPLF.

[Expression of matrixmetalloproteinase-8 on the bell-stage in human and rat tooth development].

Objective: To study the expression of MMP-8 in human and rat tooth development.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the localization of MMP-8 protein while in situ hybridization was used to examine the expression of MMP-8 mRNA.

Results: The expression of MMP-8 protein was localized in odontoblast and dentin matrix at the later bell stage in human tooth germ.

[An immunohistochemical study of the effects of excessive fluoride on type I collagen in rat developmental dentine].

Objective: To study the effects of excessive fluoride on type I collagen in rat developmental dentine.

Methods: Eighty SD rats, 5 days old, were divided into experimental and control groups, 40 in each group. The experimental group received subcutaneous injection of 0.

[The roles of Smad 2/3 in transforming growth factor-beta 1 signaling in human dental pulp cells].

Objective: To explore the roles of Smad 2/3 in transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) signaling by human dental pulp cells.

Methods: Laser scanning confocal microscope was used to observe translocation of Smad 2/3 from plasma into nucleus in cultured dental pulp cells at early stage of TGF-beta(1) treatment, and changes of Smad 2/3 protein expression at later stage were evaluated by Western blot analyses.

Results: The expression of Smad 2/3 (fluorescence intensity) kept decreasing in cytoplasm but increasing in nucleus within 2 h after TGF-beta(1) treatment, forming a trend that Smad 2/3 translocated into nucleus from cytoplasma.