Plasticity of stem cells derived from adult periodontal ligament.
BACKGROUND
The neural crest contains pluripotent cells that can give rise to neurons and glial cells of the peripheral nervous system, endocrine cells, connective tissue cells, muscle cells and pigment cells during embryonic development. Stem cells derived from the neural crest may still reside in neural crest derivatives including the periodontal ligament (PDL). However, the pluripotency of PDL-derived stem cells has not been investigated.


OBJECTIVE
To identify subpopulations of stem cells from the adult PDL and study their pluripotency. Human PDLs were harvested from impacted wisdom teeth (patients aged 19-22 years).


RESULTS
This study demonstrated that subpopulations of PDL cells expressed embryonic stem cell markers (Oct4, Sox2, Nanog and Klf4) and a subset of neural crest markers (Nestin, Slug, p75 and Sox10). Such PDL cell subpopulations exhibited the potential to differentiate into neurogenic, cardiomyogenic, chondrogenic and osteogenic lineages. Furthermore, preliminary evidence suggesting insulin production of PDL cells might be indicative of the generation of cells of the endodermal lineage.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the PDL may contain pluripotent stem cells that originate from the neural crest. Our observations open the door to prospective autologous therapeutic applications for a variety of conditions.
Huang
C-Y Charles
CY
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
Pelaez
Daniel
D
Dominguez-Bendala
Juan
J
Bendala
Juan Dominguez
JD
Garcia-Godoy
Franklin
F
Cheung
Herman S
HS
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; C000715467:KLF4 protein, human; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D012333:RNA, Messenger