Progenitor cells from dental follicle are able to form cementum matrix in vivo.
To address the molecular mechanisms of cementogenesis, we have isolated dental follicle cells and examined them to see if they contain cementoblast progenitors. Dental follicle tissue was dissected from the root surface of bovine tooth germ and cells were released by digestion with bacterial collagenase. The released cells were maintained as a bovine dental follicle cells (BDFC). To elucidate the differentiation capacity of BDFC, they were transplanted into severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice for 4 weeks. Transplanted BDFC formed cementumlike matrix; in contrast, bovine alveolar osteoblast (BAOB) transplants formed bonelike matrix, and bovine periodontal ligament cells (BPDL) formed a small amount of the cementumlike matrix. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that cementumlike matrix was positive for anti-cementum attachment protein monoclonal antibody, whereas bone-like matrix was negative. These results indicated that the BDFC contained cementoblast progenitors that were able to differentiate to cementoblasts in vivo. They also indicated that the BDFC are phenotypically distinct from BAOB and BPDL, and provide a useful model for investigating molecular mechanisms of cementogenesis.
Handa
Keisuke
K
Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Kanagawa Dental College, 82 Inaokacho, Yokosuka-city, Kanagawa, Japan 238-8580.
Saito
Masahiro
M
Tsunoda
Akira
A
Yamauchi
Masato
M
Hattori
Shintaro
S
Sato
Sadao
S
Toyoda
Minoru
M
Teranaka
Toshio
T
Narayanan
A Sampath
AS
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D002417:Cattle; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003739:Dental Cementum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003795:Dental Sac / Q000166:cytology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C433705:cementum attachment protein, 55-kDa