Abstract: Abstract：In deep dental caries, as caries-related bacteria invade into dentinal tubules and come close to the pulp, odontoblasts, which are situated at the pulp-dentin interface and function as the first defense line toward cariogenic bacteria, can sense bacteria via pattern recognition receptors (PRRs, including Toll-like receptors and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain) for different pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), produce proinflammatory cytokines, express cell adhesion molecules, and initiate innate immune responses. Many kinds of cytokines and adhesion molecules are involved in the initiation and development of pulpitis. This article reviews the research progress on how odontoblasts recognize bacterium-related factors via TLRs and NODs, cause pulp immune responses and function in subsequent pulpitis.

Key words: Odontoblast，Toll-like receptor(TLR)，Nod-like receptor，Pulpitis