Implanted adult human dental pulp stem cells induce endogenous axon guidance.
The human central nervous system has limited capacity for regeneration. Stem cell-based therapies may overcome this through cellular mechanisms of neural replacement and/or through molecular mechanisms, whereby secreted factors induce change in the host tissue. To investigate these mechanisms, we used a readily accessible human cell population, dental pulp progenitor/stem cells (DPSCs) that can differentiate into functionally active neurons given the appropriate environmental cues. We hypothesized that implanted DPSCs secrete factors that coordinate axon guidance within a receptive host nervous system. An avian embryonic model system was adapted to investigate axon guidance in vivo after transplantation of adult human DPSCs. Chemoattraction of avian trigeminal ganglion axons toward implanted DPSCs was mediated via the chemokine, CXCL12, also known as stromal cell-derived factor-1, and its receptor, CXCR4. These findings provide the first direct evidence that DPSCs may induce neuroplasticity within a receptive host nervous system.
Arthur
Agnieszka
A
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Group, CSCR University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Shi
Songtao
S
Zannettino
Andrew C W
AC
Fujii
Nobutaka
N
Gronthos
Stan
S
Koblar
Simon A
SA
D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D009432:Neural Crest; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000166:cytology*