Effects of Deferoxamine on the Repair Ability of Dental Pulp Cells In Vitro

Introduction: In previous studies, we found that hypoxia promoted the mineralization of dental pulp cells (DPCs). However, the clinical application of hypoxia as a therapy is questionable or unfeasible. Deferoxamine (DFO), a medication for iron overload, has also been shown to induce hypoxia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of DFO on the repair ability of DPCs. Methods: DPCs were obtained by using a tissue explant technique in vitro and were treated with different concentrations of DFO or hypoxia culture for 2 days. The viability, proliferation, migration, and odontogenic differentiation of DPCs were assayed and analyzed. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1 alpha) was assessed through Western blotting. Results: Ten micromolars of DFO enhanced the expression of HIF-1 alpha similarly to hypoxia and did not affect the viability of DPCs for 2 days. Furthermore, the proliferation, migration, and odontogenic differentiation of DPCs were promoted by DFO. Conclusions: These results suggest that DFO might improve the repair ability of DPCs by HIF-1 alpha.