title: Tooth slice/scaffold model of dental pulp tissue engineering.
abstract: Multipotency is a defining characteristic of post-natal stem cells. The human dental pulp contains a small subpopulation of stem cells that exhibit multipotency, as demonstrated by their ability to differentiate into odontoblasts, neural cells, and vascular endothelial cells. These discoveries highlight the fundamental role of stem cells in the biology of the dental pulp and suggest that these cells are uniquely suited for dental pulp tissue-engineering purposes. The availability of experimental approaches specifically designed for studies of the differentiation potential of dental pulp stem cells has played an important role in these discoveries. The objective of this review is to describe the development and characterization of the Tooth Slice/Scaffold Model of Dental Pulp Tissue Engineering. In addition, we discuss the multipotency of dental pulp stem cells, focusing on the differentiation of these cells into functional odontoblasts and into vascular endothelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, 48109-1078, USA.
authors.forename: V T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Cordeiro
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Zeitlin
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Nör
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000166:cytology; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014070:Tooth