Isolated stem cells from human dental pulp were able to differentiate to adipogenic (fat) and osteogenic (bone) cells.
Answers
Human teeth contain a variety of mesenchymal stem cell populations that could be used for cell-based regenerative therapies. However, the isolation and potential use of these cells in the clinics require the extraction of functional teeth, a process that may represent a significant barrier to such treatments. Fibroblasts are highly accessible and might represent a viable alternative to dental stem cells. We thus investigated and compared the in vitro differentiation potential of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs), gingival fibroblasts (hGFs) and foreskin fibroblasts (hFFs). These cell populations were cultured in osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation media, followed by Alizarin Red S and Oil Red O staining to visualize cytodifferentiation. Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to assess the expression of markers specific for stem cells (NANOG, OCT-4), osteogenic (RUNX2, ALP, SP7/OSX) and adipogenic (PPAR-γ2, LPL) differentiation. While fibroblasts are more prone towards adipogenic differentiation, hDPSCs exhibit a higher osteogenic potential. These results indicate that although fibroblasts possess a certain mineralization capability, hDPSCs represent the most appropriate cell population for regenerative purposes involving bone and dental tissues.
Answer:
Study Design. Isolation and characterization of human epidural fat (HEF) stem/progenitor cells. Objective. To identify a progenitor population within HEF and to determine if they meet the minimal criteria of a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC). Summary of Background Data. The biological function, if any, has yet to be determined for HEF. The presence of MSCs within HEF may indicate a regenerative potential within the HEF. Methods. HEF was isolated from 10 patients during elective spinal surgery.