Neuropeptides Regulate Expression of Angiogenic Growth Factors in Human Dental Pulp Fibroblasts

Introduction: Neuropeptides play an important role in inflammation and repair and have been implicated in mediating angiogenesis. Pulp fibroblasts express neuropeptide receptors, and the aim of this research was to investigate whether neuropeptides could regulate angiogenic growth factor expression in vitro. Methods: An angiogenic array was used to determine the levels of 10 angiogenic growth factors expressed by human pulp fibroblasts. Results: Pulp fibroblasts were shown to express angiogenin, angiopoietin-2, epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, leptin, plate I et-derived growth factor, placental growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor. Furthermore, the neuropeptides substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and neuropeptide Y altered angiogenic growth factor expression in vitro. Conclusions: The regulation of angiogenic growth factor expression by neuropeptides suggests a novel role for neuropeptides in pulpal inflammation and repair. (J Endod 2009;35:829-833)