Regeneration of dental pulp after pulpotomy by transplantation of CD31(-)/CD146(-) side population cells from a canine tooth.
OBJECTIVE
To achieve complete regeneration of dental pulp in vivo by stem/progenitor cells obtained from a fraction of side population (SP) cells from canine pulp.


METHODS
A subfraction of SP cells, CD31(-)/CD146(-) SP cells, were isolated by flow cytometry from canine dental pulp. The efficiency of this subfraction of SP cells was evaluated in an experimental model of pulp injury in the dog.


RESULTS
The fractionated SP cells formed extensive networks of tube-like structures in vitro. Transplantation of the SP cells into an in vivo model of amputated pulp resulted in complete regeneration of pulp tissue with capillaries and neuronal cells within 14 days. Gene-expression studies demonstrated the expression of pro-angiogenic factors, implying trophic action on endothelial cells.


CONCLUSIONS
This investigation demonstrates the potential utility of fractionated SP cells as a source of cells for total pulp regeneration complete with angiogenesis and vasculogenesis.
Department of Oral Disease Research, National Institute for Longevity Sciences, National Center for Geriatrics & Gerontology, Obu, Aichi, Japan.
Koichiro
K
Iohara
Li
L
Zheng
Masataka
M
Ito
Ryo
R
Ishizaka
Hiroshi
H
Nakamura
Takeshi
T
Into
Kenji
K
Matsushita
Misako
M
Nakashima
D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D011672:Pulpotomy; D012038:Regeneration; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens