Immunohistochemical localization of LIM mineralization protein 1 in pulp-dentin complex of human teeth with normal and pathologic conditions

J Endod. 2008 Feb;34(2):143-7. doi: 10.1016/j.joen.2007.10.015.

Abstract

LIM mineralization protein 1 (LMP-1) is an essential positive regulator of osteoblast differentiation and maturation and bone formation. However, the expression and distribution of LMP-1 in human teeth are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to detect the expression of LMP-1 in normal healthy human teeth and human teeth with various pathologic conditions. LMP-1 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry in all of the samples including 12 healthy teeth, 10 teeth with caries, 12 teeth with pulpitis, and 4 teeth with pulp calcification. We found that LMP-1 was expressed primarily in predentin, odontoblasts, and endothelial cells of the blood vessels of healthy teeth. In addition, LMP-1 expression was also found in unmineralized reparative dentin, odontoblast-like cells, and pulp fibroblasts in teeth with caries and pulpitis. Furthermore, we found LMP-1 expression on the surface of the pulp stone or in the residual predentin of teeth with pulp calcification. Our data suggest that LMP-1 plays a role in odontoblast differentiation and dentin matrix mineralization of human teeth with normal and pathologic conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Adult
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Dental Caries / pathology*
  • Dental Pulp / pathology*
  • Dental Pulp Calcification / pathology
  • Dental Pulp Diseases / pathology*
  • Dentin / pathology*
  • Dentin, Secondary / pathology
  • Dentinogenesis / physiology
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / pathology
  • Female
  • Fibroblasts / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / analysis*
  • LIM Domain Proteins
  • Male
  • Odontoblasts / pathology
  • Pulpitis / pathology
  • Zinc Fingers*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • LIM Domain Proteins
  • PDLIM7 protein, human