Pulp tissues were collected from freshly extracted human third molars, and HDPCs were prepared from the explants of normal dental pulp tissues. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were performed to detect the levels of NLRP3 mRNA and protein, respectively. In addition, immunohistochemical staining was used to determine the distribution of NLRP3 in pulp tissues.
Normal human dental pulp tissues displayed high levels of NLRP3 mRNA and protein. NLRP3 proteins were principally expressed in odontoblasts and some pulp vascular endothelial cells. Moreover, HDPCs also expressed NLRP3 but at a relatively low level in comparison with that of dental pulp tissues.
The expression of NLRP3 in HDPCs and pulp tissues suggests that NLRP3-mediated signaling pathways may play an important role in dental immune defense.