FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR-1 GENE EXPRESSION IN HUMAN DENTAL PULP DEVELOPMENT

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 (FGF1) protein expression role during human dental pulp development. Methods: Human dental papilla and dental pulp samples obtained from tooth germs and impacted third molars were extracted at Chieti University Oral Science Department in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. All samples showed no clinical or radiographic caries evidence, periodontal disease or restoration. FGF1 expression was investigated performing Microarray, Western Blot and RT-PCR analysis. Microarray analysis was carried out using high density array containing 21.329 transcripts in replicates and data obtained were statistically analyzed using the S.A.M system (Significance Analysis of Microarray) and I.P.A. (Ingenuity Pathways analysis). Results: RT-PCR and Western Blot analysis data showed FGF1 expression was higher in human dental papilla than in dental pulp samples. Moreover, FGF main isoforms were mapped to genetic networks available in the S.A.M system and IPA database and then ranked by score to show how their expression change during dental pulp development. Conclusions: In our research we observed the expression profile activity changes of FGF1 and FGF gene family in different dental pulp maturity stages. The FGF1 gene behavior at different tooth stage growth seem to play an important role as key regulator of genes family and proteins involved in human dental pulp and tooth tissues development