Figure 7.

A schematic diagram indicating the putative cell dynamics occurring in the pulp-dentin border in the pulpal healing process following tooth transplantation. CL, capillary lumen; D, dentin; DC, dendritic cells; OB, odontoblast-like cells; Mf, macrophages; PD, predentin. Osteopontin (OPN) is deposited at the dentin-predentin interface because OPN may diffuse in the predentin and adhere to the mineralized matrix. The secretion of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and OPN by immunocompetent cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells may play a role in the maturation of dendritic cells and the differentiation of odontoblasts, respectively.