Abstract
Background:
Bone grafts are commonly employed for the reconstruction of bone defects, and dentin has been reported as a promising bone graft material that supports early graft vascularization. However, clinical applications typically involve a prolonged demineralization process prior to the use of dentin samples.
Objective:
This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the biological properties of dentin samples without demineralization procedure.
Methods:
Dentin extract (DE) was obtained by mechanically crushing dentin samples, dissolving and filtering the mixture. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was first performed to identify cytokines released from DE, revealing that TGF-β was notably enriched. Subsequently, cell viability, wound healing, and tube formation assays were conducted to assess the effects of DE on cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenic potential in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
Results:
The in vitro results demonstrated that DE significantly enhanced HUVEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation capabilities. These effects were markedly attenuated by treatment with the Notch pathway inhibitor DAPT and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor N-Desethyl Sunitinib. RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses further revealed that DAPT and N-Desethyl Sunitinib, downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of markers associated with cell migration and angiogenesis signaling pathways, and these effects were significantly reversed by treatment of DE without demineralization.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this study demonstrates that DE, without demineralization, promotes cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis in HUVECs via the Notch and VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling pathways. These findings suggest that dentin, without the need for demineralization, could serve as a viable alternative to conventional bone graft materials, offering a more streamlined process for regenerative surgery.
Keywords
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