Effects of FGF2 and TGFβ1 on the differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells in vitro

Two crucial growth factors, FGF2 and TGF beta(1), were investigated in this study to determine their inductive effects on the odontoblastic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in vitro. DPSCs were isolated by immunomagnetic bead selection using the STRO-1 antibody, and then co-cultured respectively with FGF2, TGF beta(1) and FGF2 + TGF beta(1). The results showed that FGF2 can exert a significant effect on the cell proliferation, while TGF beta(1) or FGF2 + TGF beta(1) can initiate an odontoblast-like differentiation of DPSCs. Moreover, FGF2 can synergistically upregulate the effects of TGFb1 on the odontoblastic differentiation of DPSCs, as indicated by the increased alkaline phosphatase activity, the polarized cell appearance and secretary ultrastructural features, the formation of mineralized nodules and the gene/protein expression of dentin sialoprotein and dentin matrix protein-1. Together, FGF2 acted primarily on the cell proliferation, while TGF beta(1) and FGF2 + TGF beta(1) mainly stimulated the odontoblastic differentiation of DPSCs. This study provides interesting progress in the odontoblastic differentiation of DPSCs induced by FGF2 and TGF beta(1). (C) 2008 International Federation for Cell Biology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.