"Genome Wide Analysis of Dexamethasone Stimulated Mineralization in Human Dental Pulp Cells by RNA Sequencing".

Human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) contain mesenchymal stem cells and is therefore indispensible for reparative dentin formation. Here, we presented a pilot study of transcriptomic profiles of mineralized hDPCs isolated from sound human maxillary third molars. We observed altered gene expression of hDPCs between control (dexamethasone free) and experimental (dexamethasone 1 nM) groups. Differential expression analysis revealed up-regulation of several inflammation and mineralization-related genes in experimental group. Making use of GO analysis for predicting genes involved in biological process, cellular component and molecular function, we found enrichment of genes related to protein binding. Based on the results of KEGG pathway analysis, it is suggested upregulated genes in mineralized hDPCs were mostly enriched in MAPK signaling pathway, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis signaling pathway etc. Importantly, GSEA analysis revealed dexamethasone was positively related to JAK/STAT, MAPK and Notch signaling pathway. Moreover, it was suggested dexamethasone regulate signaling pathway in pluripotency of stem cells. Collectively, our work highlighted transcriptome level gene regulations and intercellular interactions in mineralized hDPCs. The database produced in this manuscript pave the way for further investigation looking to explore genes that involved in dental pulp cells mineralization.