Osteoinductive effects of preoperative dexamethasone in human dental pulp stem cells primary culture.

Aim: The use of dexamethasone (DEX) in mesenchymal cell culture induces osteoblastic differentiation and, consequently, formation of mineralized tissues. Tissue engineering proposes the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at structural and functional regeneration of biological tissues. In this sense, cell characterization in vitro is critical to ensure the development of such techniques. Our objective was to evaluate the osteoinductive effect of DEX administered as a preoperative medication in primary cell culture of human dental pulp stem cell. Methodology: Cells from the third molar pulp were divided into two experimental groups, each with two preoperative medication protocols used in dental practice and differentiated by the intake of DEX in one of them. The assessment of proliferation, differentiation and viability through trypan blue, methylthiazol tetrazolium, and von Kossa and alizarin red assays, respectively, were held within fixed intervals: 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Conclusion: This study has shown that DEX may influence in vitro human dental pulp stem cell behavior. Lay abstract: Dexamethasone (DEX) is often used as a preoperative drug in dental surgeries because it reduces pain and has favorable effects on other symptoms caused by the surgery. Additionally, when used in cell culture, its osteoinductor effect is observed. In vitro cell characterization is critical to ensure the development of therapeutic strategies used in tissue engineering. In this sense, this study used two preoperative medication protocols regularly used in dental practice. In Protocol A, patients did not intake DEX; in Protocol B, patients took in tablets of DEX. It was possible to assess in vitro behavior of human dental pulp stem cells by applying those protocols.