Induction of Oct3/4 during direct reprogramming of dental pulp cells

We previously reported the direct reprogramming of dental pulp cells to insulin-producing cells. Hence, the potential for transdifferentiation of dental pulp cells to cells of a developmentally unrelated lineage was verified. In the current study, we evaluated the multipotential plasticity of cells during the reprogramming process by examining the expression of the pluripotent stem cell markers Oct3/4, Sox2, and Nanog. The expression of Oct3/4 was markedly induced approximately 5-fold at 10 days after induction, while Sox2 levels decreased by approximately 25% of those observed in pre-induction cells, suggesting that the cells might have acquired pluripotency as a consequence of direct reprogramming. In conclusion, the induction and ectopic expression of transcriptional factors in dental pulp cells during direct reprogramming is a result of the activation of Oct3/4. Correspondence to: Tadashige Nozaki, Department of Pharmacology, Division of Dentistry, Osaka Dental University, 8-1 Kuzuhahanazono-cho, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1121, Japan, Tel: +81-72-864-3058, Fax: +81-72-864-3158, E-mail: [email protected]