Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells Are Subjected to Metabolic Reprogramming and Repressed Proliferation and Migration by the Sympathetic Nervous System via α1B-Adrenergic Receptor

Introduction Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) reside in specialized microenvironments in the dental pulp, termed “niches,” which are composed of diverse cellular components including nerves. Sensory nerves can positively regulate the expansion and differentiation of pulp cells, while the biological effects of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) on hDPSCs remain elusive. This study is devoted to investigating the effects and underlying mechanisms of the SNS on the proliferation and migration of hDPSCs. Methods The distribution of sympathetic nerve fibers in human dental pulp was examined by immunofluorescence staining of tyrosine hydroxylase. The concentration of norepinephrine in healthy and carious human dental pulp tissues was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RNA-sequencing was applied to identify the dominant sympathetic neurotransmitter receptor in hDPSCs. Seahorse metabolic assay, adenosine triphosphate assay, lactate assay, and mitochondrial DNA copy number were performed to determine the level of glycometabolism. Transwell assay, wound healing assay, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining assay, cell cycle assay, and Cell Counting Kit-8 assay were conducted to analyze the migratory and proliferative capacities of hDPSCs. Results Sprouting of sympathetic nerve fibers and an increased concentration of norepinephrine were observed in inflammatory pulp tissues. Sympathetic nerve fibers were mainly distributed along blood vessels, and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1–positive hDPSCs resided in close proximity to neurovascular bundles. ADRA1B was identified as the major sympathetic neurotransmitter receptor expressed in hDPSCs, and its expression was enhanced in inflammatory pulp tissues. In addition, the SNS inhibited the proliferation and migration of hDPSCs through metabolic reprogramming via ADRA1B and its crosstalk with serine-threonine kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Conclusions This study demonstrates that the SNS can shift the metabolism of hDPSCs from oxidative phosphorylation to anaerobic glycolysis via ADRA1B and its crosstalk with serine-threonine kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways, thereby inhibiting the proliferative and migratory abilities of hDPSCs. This metabolic shift may facilitate the maintenance of the quiescent state of hDPSCs.