Effects of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) on Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSC)

Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) are non-embryonic, mesenchymal stem cells that may have significant potential for therapeutic and regenerative biomedical applications. Studies of DPSC differentiation have demonstrated the potential to form many tissue types, including neural, osteogenic and vascular precursors using cytokines and growth factors, such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). Eight previously isolated Dental Pulp Stem Cell (DPSC) isolates were grown in culture and treated with VEGF to evaluate any effects on growth, viability or biomarker expression. Administration of VEGF at 10 ng/mL significantly inhibited growth in two rapidly dividing or rDT DPSC isolates, with no other measurable effects noted among the intermediate (iDT) or slow (sDT) growing DPSC isolates. In addition, administration of VEGF had no significant effects on viability of the sDT or iDT DPSC isolates, however, all three of the rapidly dividing or rDT DPSC isolates exhibited significantly increased viability. Finally, mRNA expression of osteogenic biomarkers Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Dentin Sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) was observed among the rDT isolates with specific combinations of DPSC biomarkers expressed (NANOG in combination with Sox-2 or Oct-4 but not both). The results of these data suggest that VEGF administration may be sufficient to induce partial differentiation of DPSC isolates, although this may be dependent upon the MSC biomarker expression of the DPSCs. These preliminary data may further research into the potential for tissue regeneration and bioengineering.