Preliminary research of recombinant matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein (MEPE) mineralization ability in vitro

Abstract

The matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein (MEPE) gene is highly expressed in tumors that cause oncogenic hypophosphatemic osteomalacia (OHO). MEPE is also known as one of the bone-tooth matrix proteins and is associated with bone and teeth mineralization. We developed a rabbit polyclonal antibody directed against recombinant human MEPE after cloning its cDNA from the cDNA library of a human brain cDNA library. Using this anti-body, we analyzed the distribution of MEPE in dog dental germ tissue by immunohistochemistry. In these specimens, MEPE was predominantly expressed by odontoblast cells and predentin, but not by dental pulp cells. Furthermore, we used von kossa staining and the results suggested that, MEPE could induce mineralization and we propose that this protein had a potential effect on dental rehabilitation.

Key words: Matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein (MEPE), mineralization Von kossa.