Odontoblastlike

Odontoblastlike refers to cells that resemble odontoblasts in both morphology and function. Odontoblasts are specialized dentin-forming cells located at the pulp–dentin border, where they secrete dentin matrix and extend cellular processes into dentinal tubules. Odontoblastlike cells may occur naturally during tooth development or arise after injury when pulp cells or progenitors differentiate toward an odontoblastic lineage.

In vivo, odontoblastlike cells can differentiate from dental pulp cells or other mesenchymal precursors as part of reparative dentinogenesis. After dental injury or caries, surviving pulp cells can differentiate into odontoblastlike cells that lay down tertiary or reparative dentin to protect the pulp. In vitro, odontoblastlike cells can be induced from dental pulp stem cells or stem cells from the apical papilla and other mesenchymal sources using odontogenic induction protocols, often involving bone morphogenetic proteins and other signaling cues.

Morphology and molecular markers of odontoblastlike cells resemble those of true odontoblasts. They typically display elongated cell bodies with processes extending toward dentin, and they express dentin-related proteins such as dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1). Alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralization capability are common features, reflecting their role in dentin-like matrix formation.

Significance and applications: understanding odontoblastlike cells is important for regenerative dentistry and dental tissue engineering. These cells are studied as a potential cellular basis for dentin regeneration, pulp-dentin complex repair, and models of odontogenic differentiation.