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Intercellular mitochondrial transfer alleviates pyroptosis in dental pulp damage
Konghuai Wang1, Lu Zhou1, Hanqing Mao1
1The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
Mitochondrial transfer from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) protects against pulpitis by reducing oxidative stress and pyroptosis in odontoblasts via tunnelling nanotubes (TNTs). This offers a novel therapeutic strategy for dental pulp repair.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Immunology
Background:
- Pulpitis involves hyperactivated NLRP3 inflammasomes and pyroptosis, particularly in odontoblasts.
- Mitochondrial oxidative stress (OS) drives NLRP3 inflammasome activation in pulpitis.
- The therapeutic potential of mitochondrial transfer for pulpitis is unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of mitochondrial transfer in protecting against pulpitis.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) exert protective effects.
- To explore the potential of mitochondrial transfer as a therapeutic strategy for dental pulp repair.
Main Methods:
- Utilized bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) as mitochondrial donors.
- Investigated mitochondrial transfer to odontoblasts via tunnelling nanotubes (TNTs).
- Assessed the impact of mitochondrial transfer on oxidative stress, pyroptosis, and inflammasome activation.
Main Results:
- BMSCs successfully transferred mitochondria to odontoblasts via TNTs, reducing mitochondrial OS and pyroptosis.
- Inhibitors of mitochondrial function or TNT formation blocked these protective effects.
- TNF-α secreted by pyroptotic odontoblasts activated NF-κB signaling in BMSCs, promoting TNT formation and mitochondrial transfer.
Conclusions:
- TNT-mediated mitochondrial transfer from BMSCs is a protective mechanism against pulpitis-induced pathology.
- This process mitigates oxidative stress and pyroptosis in odontoblasts.
- Mitochondrial transfer represents a promising therapeutic avenue for dental pulp repair.
