Cav1.2 regulated odontogenic differentiation of NG2+ pericytes during pulp injury

NG2 + pericytes, as the possible precursor cells of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have drawn attention due to their ability to differentiate into odontoblasts. Ca v 1.2 is involved in the differentiation process of stem cells, but its role in the differentiation of NG2 + pericytes is not clear. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of Ca v 1.2 in the differentiation of NG2 + pericytes into odontoblasts. NG2 + pericytes were obtained from human dental pulp cells by magnetic-activated cell sorting. During the odontogenic differentiation of NG2 + pericytes, the effects of the Ca v 1.2 inhibitors, nimodipine and Ca v 1.2 knockdown shRNA, were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and alizarin red staining. NG2CreERT2/Rosa26-GFP lineage-tracing mice were established to further investigate the roles of NG2 + pericytes and Ca v 1.2 in incisor self-repair after injury in vivo. At 10 min, 1 day, and 3 days after pulp injuries in transgenic mice, NG2-GFP + and Ca v 1.2 immunofluorescence co-staining was performed on the incisors. Nimodipine treatment and Ca v 1.2 knockdown showed similar inhibition of calcium nodule formation and mRNA levels of osteogenic markers (DSPP, DMP1, and Runx2, p