Dose response and time-course assays of statins for human pulp cells biostimulation

• Grant number: 18/26091-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2019
• End date: March 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Endodontics
• Principal Investigator: Diana Gabriela Soares dos Passos
• Grantee: Andressa Oura
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/15674-5 - Association of tissue engineering techniques for mineralized tissue regeneration under degenerative inflammatory stimulus: analysis on 3D-culture perfusion bioreactor and animal inflammatory models, AP.JP

Abstract

The number of clinical options for direct pulp capping is still limited, being restricted to materials capable to cause coagulation necrosis on pulp tissue followed by reparative dentin deposition mediated by resident cells. Dentin regeneration mediated by biomaterials associated with bioactive substances capable to modulate tissue regeneration has arrived as a new approach for pulp-dentin complex regeneration, based on biotechnology and tissue engineering strategies. The present study aims to perform a screening to select bioactive dosages of simvastatin, along with a contact time capable of increasing the odontogenic potential of human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). For that, the HDPCs will be seeded on culture plates and treated with culture medium supplemented with 0, 0.01, 0.1 or 1.0 mM simvastatin, during 1, 3 or 7 days. Cell viability (alamar blue) and mineralized matrix deposition (alizarin red) will be evaluated. Thereafter, gene expression and western blot assays will be performed to determinate dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) expression, as well as ERK ½ signaling pathway activation. Data will be subjected to statistical analysis.