title: Pluripotency of mesenchymal cells derived from synovial fluid in patients with temporomandibular joint disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mesenchymal stem cells are an interesting source of material for regenerative medicine. The present study aimed at characterizing the phenotype and differentiation potential of adherent synovial fluid-derived cells from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Synovial fluid collection takes place during TMJ cavity irrigation arthrocentesis under local anesthesia. The synovial fluid-derived adherent cells were fibroblast-like and spindle-shaped. Ex vivo-expanded synovial fluid-derived cells were shown to express STRO-1 and CD146, previously found to be present in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Further, they were identified as being capable of differentiating into a variety of cell types including osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes, and neurons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present study demonstrates that human pluripotent cells can be isolated from synovial fluid. These synovial fluid-derived cells cannot only be derived from a very accessible resource, but are also capable of providing sufficient cells for potential clinical applications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These cells may play a role in the regenerative response during arthritic diseases and are promising candidates for developing novel cell-based therapeutic approaches for postnatal skeletal tissue repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. nori1121@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Osawa
authors.forename: Kazuma
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimura
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bessho
mesh_terms: D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D051929:CD146 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D051929:CD146 Antigen; C497902:MCAM protein, human; C525591:STRO-1 antigen, human