Ca v 1.2 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 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 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 1.2 inhibitors, nimodipine and Ca 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 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 1.2 immunofluorescence co-staining was performed on the incisors. Nimodipine treatment and Ca 1.2 knockdown showed similar inhibition of calcium nodule formation and mRNA levels of osteogenic markers (DSPP, DMP1, and Runx2, p