TGF-beta3 induces ectopic mineralization in fetal mouse dental pulp during tooth germ development

Several members of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta superfamily are expressed in developing teeth from the initiation stage through adulthood. Of those, TGF-beta1 regulates odontoblast differentiation and dentin extracellular matrix synthesis. However, the molecular mechanism of TGF-beta3 in dental pulp cells is not clearly understood. In the present study, beads soaked with human recombinant TGF-beta3 induced ectopic mineralization in dental pulp from fetal mouse tooth germ samples, which increased in a dose-dependent manner. Further, TGF-beta3 promoted mRNA expression, and increased protein levels of osteocalcin (OCN) and type I collagen (COL I) in dental pulp cells. We also observed that the expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein and dentin matrix protein 1 was induced by TGF-beta3 in primary cultured dental pulp cells, however, not in calvaria osteoblasts, whereas OCN, osteopontin and osteonectin expression was increased after treatment with TGF-beta3 in both dental pulp cells and calvaria osteoblasts. Dentin sialoprotein was also partially detected in the vicinity of TGF-beta3 soaked beads in vivo. These results indicate for the first time that TGF-beta3 induces ectopic mineralization through upregulation of OCN and COL I expression in dental pulp cells, and may regulate the differentiation of dental pulp stem cells to odontoblasts.     

TGF-β3在动物面神经损伤后修复中的应用研究

目的:探讨外源性转化生长因子β₃（Transforrning growth factorβ₃,TGF-β₃）对动物面神经愈合的作用。方法:采用新西兰大白兔面神经损伤模型,将50 ng/μg TGF-β₃注射到神经切断嵌入的硅胶管明胶海绵内,16只成年兔随机分为1周组及3月组。两组内右侧面神经上颊支为实验组,左侧为对照组;通过GFAP（胶原纤维酸性蛋白）及Nestin（巢蛋白）等免疫组织化学染色方法进行愈合评估。结果:给予TGF-β₃的1周组Nestin及GFAP,3月组Nestin及GFAP及1周组与3月组Nestin及GFAP与对照组之间都统计学有差异。结论:在外源性TGF-β₃作用可促进内源性TGF-β₃产生或共同通过Smad通路引起神经损伤后修复标志物Nestin及GFAP的表达增加,这表明TGF-β₃在面神经的损伤后修复起促进愈合作用。     

Ultrathin Li4Ti5O12 Nanosheet Based Hierarchical Microspheres for High‐Rate and Long‐Cycle Life Li‐Ion Batteries

Ultrathin Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ nanosheet based hierarchical microspheres are synthesized through a three‐step hydrothermal procedure. The average thickness of the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ sheets is only ≈(6.6 ± 0.25) nm and the specific surface area of the sample is 178 m² g^?1. When applied into lithium ion batteries as anode materials, the hierarchical Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ microspheres exhibit high specific capacities at high rates (156 mA h g^?1 at 20 C, 150 mA h g^?1 at 50 C) and maintain a capacity of 126 mA h g^?1 after 3000 cycles at 20 C. The results clearly suggest that the utility of hierarchical structures based on ultrathin nanosheets can promote the lithium insertion/extraction reactions in Li₄Ti₅O₁₂. The obtained hierarchical Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ with ultrathin nanosheets and large specific surface area can be perfect anode materials for the lithium ion batteries applied in high power facilities, such as electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles.