Dental pulp and periapical tissue cells (WMTA-exposed)

Dental pulp and periapical tissue cells exposed to WMTA-derived Ca2+ and high pH refers to the biological response of specialized dental cells to White Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (WMTA). WMTA is a bioactive hydraulic calcium silicate cement used in endodontics for procedures such as pulp capping, pulpotomy, and apexification (Parirokh & Torabinejad, 2010). Upon hydration, the material releases calcium ions and hydroxyl ions, creating a highly alkaline environment with a pH of approximately 12.5. This chemical stimulus triggers the differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) into odontoblast-like cells, which are responsible for secreting reparative dentin (Zhu et al., 2014). The process is primarily mediated by the activation of calcium-sensing receptors and downstream signaling cascades, including the MAPK/ERK and BMP/Smad pathways (Okabe et al., 2006). These pathways upregulate the expression of mineralization markers such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP), facilitating the formation of a hard tissue barrier or dentin bridge (Torabinejad et al., 2018). While the high pH provides antibacterial properties and promotes healing, it must be managed carefully to avoid excessive local tissue irritation. Understanding this interaction is fundamental to regenerative endodontics and the maintenance of tooth vitality following injury or infection.

Other names

WMTA-stimulated dental pulp cellsMTA-exposed periapical tissuesMineral Trioxide Aggregate-treated dental cellsCalcium-ion stimulated dental pulp stem cells

The release of calcium ions (Ca2+) and hydroxyl ions (OH-) from WMTA creates an alkaline environment that activates the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, leading to odontogenic differentiation and mineralized tissue formation.