Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of tumor necrosis factor superfamily 14 on the viability and differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells. Human dental pulp stem cells were treated with 25 ng/ ml and 50 ng/ml tumor necrosis factor superfamily 14. Cell viability, alkaline phosphatase activity and messenger ribonucleic acid of odontogenic markers were assessed via quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Mineral deposit formation was determined using alizarin red staining. Statistical analysis was conducted using a one-way analysis of variance parametric test. Results were considered statistically significant if the p value was <0.05. Tumor necrosis factor superfamily 14 at 50 ng/ml significantly enhanced human dental pulp stem cells viability on d 3 and alkaline phosphatase activity on d 7 and d 14 compared with the control group. Tumor necrosis factor superfamily 14 (50 ng/ml) significantly upregulated the messenger ribonucleic acid expression of odontogenic markers including alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, dentin sialophosphoprotein and dentin matrix protein-1. Runt-related transcription factor 2 expression was significantly increased by treatment with 25 ng/ml tumor necrosis factor superfamily 14. The treatment groups showed higher expression of osteopontin messenger ribonucleic acid, but the difference was not statistically significant. Furthermore, an increased formation of mineral deposits was observed in the tumor necrosis factor superfamily 14-treated groups after alizarin red staining. Tumor necrosis factor superfamily 14 promotes human dental pulp stem cells expression of odontogenic differentiation markers and formation of calcific deposits.