Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) ›› 2021, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (1): 89-95.doi: 10.13481/j.1671-587x.20210112

• Research in basic medicine • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Expressions of MMP-3 and CCN2 in dental pulp tissue of rats with dental pulp injury and their significances

Mengjie LI1,2,Jinfang XIE1,Shuo YIN3,Xia LIU1()   

  1. 1.Department of Oral Comprehensive Treatment,Stomatology Hospital,Jilin University,Changchun 130021,China
    2.Department of Endodontics,Zhengzhou Dental Hospital,Henan Province,Zhengzhou 450000,China
    3.Department of Prosthodontics,Changchun Dental Hospital,Jilin Province,Changchun 130041,China
  • Received:2020-07-12 Online:2021-01-28 Published:2021-01-27
  • Contact: Xia LIU E-mail:liu_xia@jlu.edu.cn

Abstract: Objective

To establish dental pulp injury rat models, and to preliminarily illustrate the role of matrix metalloproteinase-3(MMP-3) and connective tissue growth factor 2(CCN2) in promoting the repair of dental pulp tissue after injury.

Methods

A total of 28 rats were divided into control group and 0 h, 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, 7 d and 14 d after injury groups.Except control group,the rat models of pulp injury of maxillary molars were established by simple pulp exposure. The pulp tissue of rats in various groups were obtained at different time after injury. HE and immunohistochemistry staining methods were used to observe the pathomorphology of pulp tissue and the localization and the expression levels of MMP-3 and CCN2 proteins.

Results

The HE staining results showed that the four layers of odontoblasts, depleted cell layers, multicellular layers and pulp proper were clearly visible in the pulp tissue of the rats in control group;the blood vesels were slightly dilated in the pulp tissue of the rats in 0 h injury group; the blood vessels were significantly dilated in the pulp tissue of the rats in 6 h after injury group; the gathered inflammatory cells in the pulp tissue of the rats were found in 3 d after injury group; the new blood vessels, fibroblast proliferation, and new dentin-like cells in the pulp tissue of the rats were seen in 7 d after injury group; reparative dentin formation was seen in 14d after injury group. The immunochemistry results showed that no positive staining of MMP-3 and CCN2 was found in normal pulp of the rats in control group; in 0 h after injury group and 6 h after injury group, the weak expressions of MMP-3 and CCN2 were seen;the positive expressions of MMP-3 and CCN2 were found in odontoblasts and cellular matrix under the injury site in 1 d after injury group; in 3 d and 7 d after injury groups, strongly positive expressions of MMP-3 and CCN2 were found in the odontoblasts, fibroblasts and neutrophils (P<0.05); in 14 d after injury group, the positive expressions of MMP-3 and CCN2 in reparative dentin of the rats were significantly reduced.Compared with control group,the expression levels of MMP-3 and CCN2 proteins in pulp tissue of the rats in different time after injury groups were significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with 0 h after injury group, the expression levels of MMP-3 and CCN2 proteins in pulp tissue of the rats in 6 h after injury group had no significant difference(P>0.05),and the expression levels of MMP-3 and CCN2 proteins in pulp tissue of the rats in 1 d,3 d,7 d and 14 d after injury groups were significantly increased(P<0.05).

Conclusion

The expressions of MMP-3 and CCN2 in the rat injured dental pulp tissue first increase and then decrease, suggesting that MMP3 and CCN2 may promote self-repair after pulp injury.

Key words: dental pulp injury, disease models,animal, matrix metalloproteinase-3, connective tissue growth factor 2

CLC Number: 

  • R-332