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Abstract
We compared the gene expression profiles of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and
bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSSCs) as representative populations of odontoprogenitor
and osteoprogenitor cells, respectively. Total RNA from primary cultures was reverse-transcribed
to generate cDNA probes and then hybridized with the Research Genetics human gene
microarray filter GF211. The microarrays were analyzed using the PATHWAYS software
package. Human DPSCs and BMSSCs were found to have a similar level of gene expression
for more than 4000 known human genes. A few differentially expressed genes, including
collagen type XVIII alpha1, insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2), discordin domain
tyrosine kinase 2, NAD(P)H menadione oxidoreductase, homolog 2 of Drosophila large
disk, and cyclin-dependent kinase 6 were highly expressed in DPSCs, whereas insulin-like
growth factor binding protein-7 (IGFBP-7), and collagen type I alpha2 were more highly
expressed in BMSSCs. Furthermore, we confirmed the differential expression of these
genes by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and northern blot hybridization.
The protein expression patterns for both IGF-2 and IGFBP-7 correlated with the differential
mRNA levels seen between DPSCs and BMSSCs. This report describes the gene expression
patterns of two distinct precursor populations associated with mineralized tissue,
and provides a basis for further characterization of the functional roles for many
of these genes in the development of dentin and bone.