Secretory leuckocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is thought as a regulating protein on the synthesis and degradation of matrix proteins. But there was no report of expression and function of SLPI on the tooth development, especially on the odontoblasts. As observed by in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis, SLPI was expressed in odontoblasts and predentin on post-natal day 4 (PN4). On PN10, SLPI was observed under the dentin and apical region including odontoblasts processes. Further, on PN15, expression of SLPI was the same pattern compared to PN10. SLPI was expressed under layer of the odontoblasts and in odontoblasts on PN20. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and -9 levels in SLPI/MDPC-23 cells were higher than that of the MDPC-23 cells. The gene expression of SLPI, bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteocalcin (OCN), osteonectin (ON), and collagen type I (Col I) was higher in SLPI/MDPC-23 than that of MDPC-23 cells and the expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) was lower in SLPI/MDPC-23. Taken together, our results suggest that SLPI may be a MMP-2 and -9 regulating molecule in odontoblasts during dentin matrix formation and acts as a signaling molecule for dentin matrix related proteins during odontoblasts differentiation and mineralization.