Effects of FGF2 and TGFβ 1 on the differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells in vitro

Two crucial growth factors, FGF2 and TGFβ 1 , were investigated in this study to determine their inductive effects on the odontoblastic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in vitro . DPSCs were isolated by immunomagnetic bead selection using the STRO‐1 antibody, and then co‐cultured respectively with FGF2, TGFβ 1 and FGF2 + TGFβ 1 . The results showed that FGF2 can exert a significant effect on the cell proliferation, while TGFβ 1 or FGF2 + TGFβ 1 can initiate an odontoblast‐like differentiation of DPSCs. Moreover, FGF2 can synergistically upregulate the effects of TGFβ 1 on the odontoblastic differentiation of DPSCs, as indicated by the increased alkaline phosphatase activity, the polarized cell appearance and secretary ultrastructural features, the formation of mineralized nodules and the gene/protein expression of dentin sialoprotein and dentin matrix protein‐1. Together, FGF2 acted primarily on the cell proliferation, while TGFβ 1 and FGF2 + TGFβ 1 mainly stimulated the odontoblastic differentiation of DPSCs. This study provides interesting progress in the odontoblastic differentiation of DPSCs induced by FGF2 and TGFβ 1 .