Characterization of cementocyte-like cell line

Dental cementum is a mineralized tissue covering the tooth root that functions in tooth attachment and posteruptive adjustment of tooth position. It has been reported to be highly similar to bone in several respects but remains poorly understood in terms of development and regeneration. The question is whether cementocytes, the residing cells in cellular cementum, have the potential to be protagonist in dental cementum homeostasis, responding to endocrine signals and local regulator dental cementum metabolism. From this, the projects aim was isolate and characterize a human teeth cementocyte line and evaluate the cell viability and proliferation against inorganic phosphate treatment. From healthy erupted human teeth, the cells were isolated using sequential collagenase / EDTA digestions, and maintained them in standard cell culture conditions. A cementocyte-like cell line was cloned HCY-23 (human cementocyte clone 23), which presented a cementocyte compatible gene expression signature, including the expression of dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1+), sclerostin (SOST+), E11/gp38/podoplanin (E11+), and osteoprotegerin (OPG+). In contrast, these cells did not express the marker dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP-). HCY-23 cells produced mineral-like nodules in vitro under differentiation conditions, and were higly responsive to inorganic phosphate (Pi). In conclusion, this newly established human-derived cementocyte-like cell line should prove essential for determining the role of cementocytes on periodontal homestasis and regeneration (AU)