The penetration of cariogenic oral bacteria into enamel and dentin during the caries process triggers an immune/inflammatory response in the underlying pulp tissue, the reduction of which is considered a prerequisite to dentinogenesis-based pulp regeneration. If the role of odontoblasts in dentin formation is well known, their involvement in the antibacterial response of the dental pulp to cariogenic microorganisms has yet to be elucidated. Our aim here was to determine if odontoblasts produce @entity842 (NO) with antibacterial activity upon activation of @entity2938 ( @entity2938 ), a cell membrane receptor involved in the recognition of cariogenic Gram-positive bacteria. @entity1 odontoblast-like cells differentiated from dental pulp explants were stimulated with the @entity2938 synthetic agonist Pam2CSK4. We found that @entity2821 , @entity3623 , and @entity9554 gene expression was increased in Pam2CSK4-stimulated odontoblast-like cells compared to unstimulated ones. @entity3623 was the most up-regulated gene. @entity2821 and @entity9554 proteins were not detected in Pam2CSK4-stimulated or control cultures. @entity3623 protein synthesis, NOS activity and NO extracellular release were all augmented in stimulated samples. Pam2CSK4-stimulated cell supernatants reduced @entity6586 growth, an effect counteracted by the NOS inhibitor @entity6462 . In vivo, the @entity3623 gene was up-regulated in the inflamed pulp of @entity1547 compared with healthy ones. @entity3623 protein was immunolocalized in odontoblasts situated beneath the caries lesion but not in pulp cells from healthy teeth. These results suggest that odontoblasts may participate to the antimicrobial pulp response to dentin-invading Gram-positive bacteria through @entity3623 -mediated NO production. They might in this manner pave the way for accurate dental pulp healing and regeneration.

@entity1 odontoblast-like cells produce @entity842 with antibacterial activity upon XXXX activation.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Human'] @entity6586 :: ('1309', 'Species') :: ['Streptococcus mutans'] @entity9554 :: ('4846', 'Gene') :: ['NOS3'] @entity2821 :: ('4842', 'Gene') :: ['NOS1'] @entity2938 :: ('7097', 'Gene') :: ['TLR2', 'Toll-like receptor-2'] @entity1547 :: ('MESH:D003731', 'Disease') :: ['carious teeth'] @entity842 :: ('MESH:D009569', 'Chemical') :: ['nitric oxide'] @entity3623 :: ('4843', 'Gene') :: ['NOS2'] @entity6462 :: ('D019331', 'Chemical') :: ['L-NAME']
@entity2938 :: (7097,Gene) :: ['TLR2']
