(PR16) Characterization of Pulp Fluid Proteins in the Subdentin Space

Thursday, April 28, 2022

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM PST

Location: Exhibit Hall

Presenter(s)

Laurel Martinez, DMD, AM

Endodontics Resident PGY2
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States

Co-Author(s)

CZ

Chris Zhang, N/A

DDS Candidate
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States
SK

Sol Kim, Ph.D.

Assistant Project Scientist
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States
RK

Reuben Kim, D.D.S., Ph.D.

Professor and Chair, Section of Restorative Dentistry
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States

Abstract: The main objectives of this study are to identify the subdentin space where pulp fluid resides and to characterize proteins in pulp fluid. Freshly extracted teeth were subjected to a deep class I cavity preparation without pulp exposure, and Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) was applied as an image contrast for 20 min and 24 hours followed by µCT scanning. µCT scanning of the same tooth before SDF treatment was used as a control. Pulp fluid was also isolated from 5 virgin teeth from healthy individuals and subjected to protein microarray analysis capable of identifying 40 different cytokines. µCT images revealed a vessel-like opacity pattern that spans entirely from the coronal portion to the apical portion of the tooth as early as 20 min after SDF treatment. No patterns were observed before SDF treatment. Protein array analysis revealed high levels of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in normal, non-diseased pulp fluid.

Conclusion: Pulp fluids exist in the subdentin space, and the levels of Timp1 and 2 in pulp fluid may be useful to differentiate the diseased status of the pulp.