Substance P Expression by Human Dental Pulp Fibroblasts: A Potential Role in Neurogenic Inflammation

• Published in: Journal of endodontics Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 73 - 77
• Main Authors: Killough, Simon A., BSc, BDS, MFDS, PhD, Lundy, Fionnuala T., BSc, PhD, Irwin, Chris R., BSc, BDS, FDS (Rest Dent), PhD, FFD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2009
• Subjects: Blotting, Western; Caries; Cells, Cultured; Dental Caries - metabolism; Dental Pulp - cytology; Dental Pulp - metabolism; dental pulp fibroblasts; Dentistry; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Interleukin-1beta - biosynthesis; neurogenic inflammation; Neurogenic Inflammation - metabolism; neurokinin-1; Receptors, Neurokinin-1 - biosynthesis; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; substance P; Substance P - biosynthesis; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - biosynthesis; Caries; dental pulp fibroblasts; substance P; neurokinin-1; neurogenic inflammation
• ISSN: 0099-2399; 1878-3554
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joen.2008.10.010

Abstract Neurogenic inflammation describes the local release of neuropeptides, notably substance P (SP), from afferent neurons and might play a role in the pathogenesis of pulpal disease. The fibroblast is the most numerous cell type in the dental pulp, and recent work has suggested that it is involved in the inflammatory response. Primary pulp fibroblast cell populations were isolated by enzymatic digestion. Whole pulp tissue was obtained from freshly extracted sound (n = 35) and carious (n = 39) teeth. Expression of SP and neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1) mRNA by pulp fibroblasts was determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). SP was expressed by pulpal fibroblasts at both mRNA and protein levels. In addition, NK-1 mRNA and protein expression was detected in fibroblast cultures by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. SP levels, determined by radioimmunoassay, were significantly greater ( P < .05) in carious compared with sound teeth. These findings suggest that pulp fibroblasts play a role in neurogenic inflammation in pulpal disease.