Autophagy's Role in Odontoblast Differentiation and Dentin Pulp Regeneration

Odontoblasts are the main component of tooth dentin and play a crucial role in defending against dental caries during carious invasion. Autophagy, a process involved in maintaining cellular homeostasis, also plays a dual role in dentin pulp tissue regeneration [104]. This process can protect odontoblasts during the early inflammatory stages of caries [104].

A previous study reported that autophagy can enhance odontoblastic differentiation capacity in response to LPS stimulation [105]. Specifically, trace amounts of LPS were found to significantly increase autophagy proteins, autophagosomes, and autophagic flux, as well as mineralized nodule numbers, ALP activity, ECM, DSPP, and DMP1 expression in odontoblasts [105]. This is achieved through the suppression of NF-κB activation, which is the underlying mechanism behind autophagy-mediated odontoblast differentiation [106]. By inhibiting NF-κB, it is possible to restore differentiation and collagen matrix formation in odontoblastic cells [106].