Tooth Decay Promotes Senescence in Dental Pulp Stem Cells, Modifying Their Biological and Proteomic Profiles

ABSTRACT: Tooth decay, also known as dental caries, is a prevalent oral health problem that significantly reduces an individual's quality of life; however, it can be effectively managed through restorative treatments. The condition primarily affects the enamel and dentin structures and can be treated before it progresses to the pulp chamber. Even in cases where the caries does not reach the pulp, microbial products from the lesion can still penetrate the pulp chamber, potentially inducing stress on pulp cells, including dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Even in the absence of direct pulpal exposure, microbial by-products originating from carious lesions may diffuse through dentinal tubules, potentially exerting stress on pulpal cells, including dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of the biological and proteomic profiles of DPSCs isolated from carious teeth that had not reached the pulp and those isolated from healthy teeth. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of the biological and proteomic profiles of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) isolated from clinically asymptomatic teeth with deep dentinal caries that had not reached the pulp and those isolated from healthy teeth. After evaluation of biological mechanisms such as senescence and apoptosis, we examined both the whole-cell proteome and secretome of these DPSCs by conducting a shotgun proteomics approach. Our findings indicate that the DPSC population isolated from decayed teeth exhibited a significantly higher proportion of senescent cells compared to the control group. Proteomic analysis further revealed that DPSCs from decayed teeth activated specific signaling pathways in response to microbial products, manifesting an inflammatory profile. Additionally, we observed an upregulation in the expression of proteins associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and components of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), both of which are hallmarks of the senescence process. This study highlights that even in the absence of direct pulp involvement, microbial stress resulting from caries can impact DPSCs within the pulp. The study reveals that DPSCs can be affected by microbial signals from carious lesions, even when the pulp appears clinically intact. The activation of senescence and inflammatory mechanisms in these affected cells may have deleterious effects on other critical tissues within the organism. Consequently, restorative treatments should consider targeting not only the decayed tissue but also the senescent cells within the pulp that may have been affected by the microbial stress induced by caries.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)

TISSUE(S): Stem Cell, Cell Culture

DISEASE(S): Wounds And Injuries

SUBMITTER: Servet ÖZCAN  

LAB HEAD: Servet Özcan

PROVIDER: PXD064565 | Pride | 2026-04-27

REPOSITORIES: Pride