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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Isolation of Whole Cell Protein Lysates from Mouse Facial Processes and Cultured Palatal Mesenchyme Cells for Phosphoprotein Analysis
Published on: April 1, 2022
The MAP kinase pathway is involved in odontoblast stimulation via p38 phosphorylation
Stephane Simon1, Anthony J Smith, Ariane Berdal
1Laboratoire de Physiopathologie Orale Moléculaire, INSERM, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France. srs635@bham.ac.uk
Introduction:
We have previously shown that the p38 gene is highly expressed in odontoblasts during active primary dentinogenesis, but is drastically down-regulated as cells become quiescent in secondary dentinogenesis. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that p38 expression might be upregulated, and the protein activated by phosphorylation, when odontoblasts are stimulated such as during tertiary reactionary dentinogenesis.
Methods:
We stimulated immortalized, odontoblast-like MDPC-23 cells, alone or in combination, with heat-inactivated Streptococcus mutans, EDTA-extracted dentine matrix proteins (DMPs), or growth factors, including transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and adrenomedullin (ADM). We used ELISA to measure the resulting phosphorylation of the p38 protein, as well as its degree of nuclear translocation.
Results:
Our results suggest that the p38-MAPKinase pathway is activated during odontoblast stimulation in tertiary dentinogenesis by both p38 phosphorylation and enhanced nuclear translocation.
Conclusions:
Data indicate that odontoblast behaviour therefore potentially recapitulates that during active primary dentinogenesis.
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