Tooth Decay Promotes Senescence in Dental Pulp Stem Cells, Modifying Their Biological and Proteomic Profiles

Area of Science:

• Oral Biology
• Stem Cell Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Dental caries is a common oral disease impacting quality of life.
• Microbial products from caries can stress dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) even before pulp exposure.
• Understanding DPSC response to early caries is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare biological and proteomic profiles of DPSCs from healthy teeth versus teeth with non-cavitated dentinal caries.
• To investigate the impact of early-stage dental caries on DPSC senescence and inflammatory markers.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and biological evaluation of DPSCs from healthy and carious teeth.
• Shotgun proteomics analysis to compare protein expression profiles.
• Assessment of cellular senescence and associated protein markers.

Main Results:

• DPSCs from carious teeth showed a significantly higher proportion of senescent cells.
• Proteomic analysis revealed upregulation of inflammatory, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) proteins.
• Evidence of DPSC stress and altered cellular functions due to non-cavitated caries.

Conclusions:

• Dental pulp stem cells are affected by caries-induced stress, leading to senescence and inflammation, even when the pulp is clinically intact.
• Senescence and inflammation in DPSCs may have broader systemic health implications.
• Future restorative dental treatments should consider addressing senescent cells within the pulp to manage caries effectively.