Analysis of proteoglycan expression in human dental pulp

Author(s)

Raphaelli Nahas-Scocate, Ana Carla ^{[1, 2]} ; Alves de Moraes, Gabrielle Ferrante ^[1] ; Nader, Helena Bonciani ^[1] ; Vicente, Carolina Meloni ^[1] ; Toma, Leny ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Bioquim, Disciplina Biol Mol, Rua 3 Maio 100, BR-04044020 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Guarulhos, Praca Tereza Cristina 229, BR-07023070 Guarulhos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ARCHIVES OF ORAL BIOLOGY; v. 90, p. 67-73, JUN 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Proteoglycans are glycosylated proteins which have covalently attached highly anionic glycosaminoglycans. They can be located on the extracellular matrix, cell membrane or intracellular granules. To date, few studies have reported the presence of proteoglycans in human dental pulp. Objective: The aim of this study was, therefore, to analyze the expression of lumican, versican and glypican proteoglycans in deciduous and permanent human dental pulp by real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) and immunofluorescence. Design: Healthy human dental pulps were used: 13 from permanent teeth (group 1) and eight from deciduous teeth (group 2). Versican, lumican and glypican (glypican-1 to 6) gene expressions were quantitatively evaluated by real-time PCR technique, using the expression of the endogenous gene GAPDH as control. Pulp sections were submitted to immunostaining procedure with fluorescence labelling, the tissues being fixed and incubated with well-characterized monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against proteoglycan epitopes, including anti-versican and anti-lumican. Comparisons among the groups of the quantitative scores for each proteoglycan were analyzed using the t-test and ANOVA (P < 0.05). Results: The real-time PCR analysis showed expression of versican and lumican proteoglycans in the two groups, with significant predominance of lumican gene (P = 0.03). Considering the glypican genes, glypican-3 was the proteoglycan most significantly expressed in permanent pulps (P < 0.001), while glypican-2 was not expressed in this tissue. The immunofluorescence quantification exhibited no significant differences between lumican and versican among the pulps and groups. Conclusions: The lumican gene was more expressed than versican and glypican-3 was the isoform more expressed in permanent pulp compared to deciduous. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/18066-6 - The role of proteoglycan´s microdomains-6-O-sulfated in tumor biology and tissues.
• Grantee: Leny Toma
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/03964-6 - Glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans: interplay between structure and function
• Grantee: Helena Bonciani Nader
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants