As osteoclasts have the central roles in normal bone remodeling, it is ideal to regulate only the osteoclasts performing pathological bone destruction without affecting normal osteoclasts. Based on a hypothesis that pathological osteoclasts form under the pathological microenvironment of the bone tissues, we here set up optimum culture conditions to examine the entity of pathologically activated osteoclasts (PAOCs). Through searching various inflammatory cytokines and their combinations, we found the highest resorbing activity of osteoclasts when osteoclasts were formed in the presence of M-CSF, receptor activator of NF-κB ligand, and IL-1β. We have postulated that these osteoclasts are PAOCs. Analysis using confocal laser microscopy revealed that PAOCs showed extremely high proton secretion detected by the acid-sensitive fluorescence probe Rh-PM and bone resorption activity compared with normal osteoclasts. PAOCs showed unique morphology bearing high thickness and high motility with motile cellular processes in comparison with normal osteoclasts. We further examined the expression of Kindlin-3 and Talin-1, essential molecules for activating integrin β-chains. Although normal osteoclasts express high levels of Kindlin-3 and Talin-1, expression of these molecules was markedly suppressed in PAOCs, suggesting the abnormality in the adhesion property. When whole membrane surface of mature osteoclasts was biotinylated and analyzed, the IL-1β-induced cell surface protein was detected. PAOCs could form a subpopulation of osteoclasts possibly different from normal osteoclasts. PAOC-specific molecules could be an ideal target for regulating pathological bone destruction.

Systemic transplantation of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) is used to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)–like disorders in MRL/lpr mice. However, the mechanisms underlying the SHED-based therapy remain unclear. In this study, we hypothesized that trophic factors within SHED-releasing extracellular vesicles (SHED-EVs) ameliorate the SLE-like phenotypes in MRL/lpr mice. SHED-EVs were isolated from the culture supernatant of SHED. SHED-EVs were treated with or without RNase and systemically administered to MRL/lpr mice. Subsequently, recipient bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) isolated from SHED-EV–administered MRL/lpr mice were examined for the in vitro and in vivo activity of hematopoietic niche formation and immunoregulation. Furthermore, the recipient BMMSCs were secondarily transplanted into MRL/lpr mice. The systemic SHED-EV infusion ameliorated the SLE-like phenotypes in MRL/lpr mice and improved the functions of recipient BMMSCs by rescuing Tert mRNA-associated telomerase activity, hematopoietic niche formation, and immunoregulation. The secondary transplantation of recipient BMMSCs recovered the immune condition and renal functions of MRL/lpr mice. The RNase treatment depleted RNAs, such as microRNAs, within SHED-EVs, and the RNA-depleted SHED-EVs attenuated the benefits of SHED-EVs in MRL/lpr mice. Collectively, our findings suggest that SHED-secreted RNAs, such as microRNAs, play a crucial role in treating SLE by targeting the telomerase activity of recipient BMMSCs.

Nitric oxide (NO) is thought to play a pivotal regulatory role in dental pulp tissues under both physiological and pathological conditions. However, little is known about the NO functions in dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). We examined the direct actions of a spontaneous NO gas-releasing donor, NOC-18, on the odontogenic capacity of rat DPSCs (rDPSCs). In the presence of NOC-18, rDPSCs were transformed into odontoblast-like cells with long cytoplasmic processes and a polarized nucleus. NOC-18 treatment increased alkaline phosphatase activity and enhanced dentin-like mineralized tissue formation and the expression levels of several odontoblast-specific genes, such as runt related factor 2, dentin matrix protein 1 and dentin sialophosphoprotein, in rDPSCs. In contrast, carboxy-PTIO, a NO scavenger, completely suppressed the odontogenic capacity of rDPSCs. This NO-promoted odontogenic differentiation was activated by tumor necrosis factor-NF-κB axis in rDPSCs. Further in vivo study demonstrated that NOC-18-application in a tooth cavity accelerated tertiary dentin formation, which was associated with early nitrotyrosine expression in the dental pulp tissues beneath the cavity. Taken together, the present findings indicate that exogenous NO directly induces the odontogenic capacity of rDPSCs, suggesting that NO donors might offer a novel host DPSC-targeting alternative to current pulp capping agents in endodontics.

BackgroundStem cells from apical papilla (SCAP) are a subpopulation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from the apical papilla of the developing tooth root apex of human teeth. Because of their osteogenic/dentinogenic capacity, SCAP are considered as a source for bone and dentin regeneration. However, little is understood about the molecular mechanism of osteogenic/dentinogenic differentiation of SCAP. Phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K)-AKT-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signal pathway participates in regulating the differentiation of various cell types, such as MSCs. In this study, we examined the role of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signal pathway in the osteogenic/dentinogenic differentiation of SCAP. Moreover, we challenge to fabricate scaffold-free SCAP-based spheroidal calcified constructs.MethodsSCAP were pretreated with or without small interfering RNA for AKT (AKT siRNA), PI3K inhibitor LY294402, and mTOR inhibitor rapamycin and were cultured under osteogenic/dentinogenic differentiation to examine in vitro and in vivo calcified tissue formation. Moreover, SCAP-based cell aggregates were pretreated with or without LY294402 and rapamycin. The cell aggregates were cultured under osteogenic/dentinogenic condition and were analyzed the calcification of the aggregates.ResultsPretreatment with AKT siRNA, LY294402, and rapamycin enhances the in vitro and in vivo calcified tissue-forming capacity of SCAP. SCAP were fabricated as scaffold-free spheroids and were induced into forming calcified 3D constructs. The calcified density of the spheroidal constructs was enhanced when the spheroids were pretreated with LY294402 and rapamycin.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that the suppression of PI3K-AKT-mTOR signal pathway plays a role in not only enhancing the in vivo and in vitro osteogenic/dentinogenic differentiation of SCAP, but also promoting the calcification of scaffold-free SCAP-based calcified constructs. These findings suggest that a suppressive regulation of PI3K-AKT-mTOR signal pathway is a novel approach for SCAP-based bone and dentin regeneration.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13287-018-1077-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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