title: Defining properties of neural crest-derived progenitor cells from the apex of human developing tooth.
abstract: The connective tissue of the human tooth arises from cells that are derived from the cranial neural crest and, thus, are termed as "ectomesenchymal cells." Here, cells being located in a pad-like tissue adjacent to the apex of the developing tooth, which we designated the third molar pad, were separated by the microexplant technique. When outgrowing from the explant, dental neural crest-derived progenitor cells (dNC-PCs) adhered to plastic, proliferated steadily, and displayed a fibroblast-like morphology. At the mRNA level, dNC-PCs expressed neural crest marker genes like Sox9, Snail1, Snail2, Twist1, Msx2, and Dlx6. Cytofluorometric analysis indicated that cells were positive for CD49d (alpha4 integrin), CD56 (NCAM), and PDGFRalpha, while negative for CD31, CD34, CD45, and STRO-1. dNC-PCs could be differentiated into neurogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic lineages and were shown to produce bone matrix in athymic mice. These results demonstrate that human third molar pad possesses neural crest-derived cells that represent multipotent stem/progenitor cells. As a rather large amount of dNC-PCs could be obtained from each single third molar, cells may be used to regenerate a wide range of tissues within the craniofacial region of humans.
authors.affiliation: Center of Advanced European Studies and Research, Bonn, Germany. degistirici@caesar.de
authors.forename: Ozer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Degistirici
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jaquiery
authors.forename: Bodo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schönebeck
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siemonsmeier
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Götz
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014070:Tooth / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019002:CD56 Antigen; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; C527932:SOX9 protein, human; C527933:Sox9 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors