Several more alternatives can be offered for the treatment of carious pulp disease and restoration of lost teeth by inducing the odontoblast differentiation of dental pulp stem cell(DPSC). Mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPK), specifically P38MAPK, are involved in various cellular functions, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, by transducing extracellular signal to the cell and nucleus through transcription factor phosphorylation. In addition, bone morphogenetic protein-2, mineral trioxide aggregate, and biodentin can induce the odontoblast differentiation of DPSC by regulating MAPK signaling pathway and certain scaffolds in tissue engineering. Moreover, the MAPK signaling pathway performs an important function in the migration, adhesion, and differentiation of DPSC during dental pulp injury. Based on the key function of MAPK signaling pathway, further study on the molecule, substrate, and mechanisms is crucial.
