# Thiamet-G facilitates reparative dentin formation via modulating O-GlcNAcylation and inflammation

## TL;DR

Thiamet-G helps form reparative dentin by reducing inflammation and regulating cell signaling in dental pulp.

## Contribution

This study is the first to show that Thiamet-G promotes reparative dentin formation through O-GlcNAcylation and inflammation modulation.

## Key findings

- Thiamet-G increased cell proliferation and ALP activity in dental pulp stem cells.
- Thiamet-G treatment enhanced dentin-bridge formation in mice.
- Thiamet-G modulated inflammation and regenerative signaling in vivo.

## Abstract

O-GlcNAcylation, a reversible post-translational modification regulated by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA), is involved in various cellular processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, and inflammation modulation. Developmental study revealed that proper O-GlcNAcylation mediated by OGT is vital for tooth morphogenesis. However, the function of O-GlcNAcylation during reparative dentin formation is still unknown. To understand its therapeutic relevance in regenerative dentistry, we examined the potential of OGA inhibitor, Thiamet-G, in reparative dentin formation using both in vitro and in vivo approaches.

Human dental pulp stem cells were cultivated to examine cell viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and mRNA expression of reparative dentin-related genes. Furthermore, the dental pulp of the upper first molar in 8-week-old male ICR mice was exposed, and Thiamet-G was locally delivered for in vivo studies. Histological and immunohistochemical alterations were analyzed after 3 and 5 days post-cavity preparation, and dentin-bridge formation was evaluated at 42 days using histology and micro-CT.

In vitro, Thiamet-G treatment facilitated proliferation, ALP activity, and upregulated expression of reparative dentin-related genes, including BMP2, BSP, DSPP, OCN, and RUNX2. In vivo, Thiamet-G treated specimens showed the altered localizations of NESTIN, NF-κB, MPO, OPN, RUNX2, TGF-β1, and TNF-α at 3 and 5 days post exposure, suggesting enhanced dentin regeneration and modulated inflammation. Particularly, at 42 days, Thiamet-G treated specimens exhibited enhanced dentin-bridge formation, confirmed by micro-CT imaging and histology.

Thiamet-G treatment facilitated reparative dentin formation by modulating inflammation and regulating regenerating signaling, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent.