title: Basic fibroblast growth factor enhances stemness of human stem cells from the apical papilla.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAP) are a type of mesenchymal stem cells found in the developing tissue, apical papilla, of immature permanent teeth. Studies have shown that SCAP are likely to be a source of primary odontoblasts that are responsible for the formation of root dentin. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a signaling molecule and pleiotropic growth factor involved in tooth root development, and it promotes proliferation of a variety of cell types. The effects of bFGF on SCAP, however, have not been examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the regulatory effects of bFGF on the proliferation and differentiation potential of human SCAP in vitro. Changes in the cell cycle and proliferation, colony-forming unit-fibroblastic formation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteogenic/dentinogenic differentiation, and stem cell gene makers of SCAP, cultured in the presence or absence of bFGF, were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with 5 ng/mL bFGF significantly increased SCAP proliferation and their colony-forming unit-fibroblastic formation efficiency. The growth factor also increased the expression of STRO-1 and the stem cell gene makers Nanog, Oct4, Sox2, and Rex1 in SCAP. In contrast, bFGF reduced the ALP activity, mineral nodule formation, and the expression of ALP, osteocalcin, bone sialoprotein, and dentin sialophosphoprotein. When SCAP cultures were expanded in the presence of bFGF for 1 week, subsequent stimulation of the osteogenic/dentinogenic condition resulted in enhanced differentiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Under certain conditions, bFGF enhances SCAP stemness by up-regulating stem cell gene expression, increasing proliferation ability, and potentiating differentiation potency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shanxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiayuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: George T-J
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wenxi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhongchun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Zhongying
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Longxing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003771:Dental Papilla / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D003810:Dentinogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D005819:Genetic Markers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D058574:Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein / Q000032:analysis; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000032:analysis; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000032:analysis; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D016335:Zinc Fingers; D000099311:Dentin Sialophosphoprotein
chemical_list: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D005819:Genetic Markers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D058574:Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D015675:Osteocalcin; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D000099311:Dentin Sialophosphoprotein; C486780:NANOG protein, human; C494173:POU5F1 protein, human; C527782:SOX2 protein, human; C525591:STRO-1 antigen, human; C507976:ZFP42 protein, human