Stage-Specific Transcriptomic Dynamics In Dental Pulp Cells During Mineralization

This study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes associated with the mineralization process of human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) cultured under odontogenic conditions. hDPCs were induced in odontogenic media (OM) for 15, 17, and 19 days. Mineralization was assessed using Alizarin Red S staining at each time point, and transcriptomic profiling was performed via RNA sequencing. Differentially expressed genes were identified by comparing three groups: OM_D19 vs OM_D15, OM_D17 vs OM_D15, and OM_D19 vs OM_D17. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3) was the most significantly upregulated gene over time, showing a strong correlation with the progression of mineralization. The mineralization of hDPCs intensified with prolonged odontogenic culture. The upregulation of MMP3 suggests its potential as a key regulatory factor in dentin regeneration, highlighting its promise as a therapeutic target for dental pulp repair and regeneration.