The effects of chitosan upon the experimentally induced differentiation of MDPC-23 cells, derived from mouse dental papilla cells, were investigated by RT-PCR, observations of cell morphology and Alizaline red-S staining. Chitosan was found to significantly increase and accelerate the expression of ALP mRNA but decrease the ColI transcript levels, as compared with the control, in a time-dependent manner during the differentiation of MDPC-23 cells. Chitosan also significantly downregulated ON mRNA expression and accelerated mineralization in differentiating MDPC-23 cells. These results suggest that chitosan facilitates odontoblast differentiation and mineralization and may have potential clinical applications as a dentin regeneration material.

• Ju-Hyun Park(Oral Biology Research Institute, Chosun University School of Dentistry) These authors
• Do Kyung Kim(Oral Biology Research Institute, Chosun University School of Dentistry) These authors
• Jong-Tae Park(Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Oral Biology, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry)
• Su Young Kim(Oral Biology Research Institute, Chosun University School of Dentistry)
• Sun-Kyoung Yu(Oral Biology Research Institute, Chosun University School of Dentistry)
• Kwang-Hee Cho(Oral Biology Research Institute, Chosun University School of Dentistry)
• Heung-Joong Kim(Oral Biology Research Institute, Chosun University School of Dentistry) Corresponding author