title: Isolation and identification of CXCR4-positive cells from human dental pulp cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In previous studies, we found expression of stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α)/CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in human dental pulp and the SDF-1α-CXCR4 axis might play a role in the recruitment of CXCR4-positive dental pulp cells (CXCR4(+) DPCs) toward the damaged sites. However, the specific function of CXCR4(+) DPCs in the injured dental pulp was still unknown. The purpose of this study was to isolate CXCR4(+) DPCs from dental pulp cells in vitro to pave the way for further study of their characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  CXCR4(+) DPCs were isolated with magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS). Freshly isolated CXCR4(+) DPCs were identified by immunohistochemistry with light microscopy or confocal microscopy. Then the phenotypes CXCR4, stromal cell surface marker-1 (STRO-1), CD146, and CD34 in 3 groups (ie, CXCR4(+) DPCs, CXCR4(-) DPCs, or non-sorted DPCs) were analyzed by flow cytometry after they were cultured and expanded in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated the isolated subpopulation of DPCs was enriched with CXCR4(+) DPCs, and the positive rates of STRO-1 and CD146 in CXCR4(+) DPCs group were higher than CXCR4(-) DPCs or non-sorted DPCs groups (P < .05). There was no expression of CD34 in each group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We can isolate CXCR4(+) DPCs from DPCs with MACS and identify them by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Dentistry, 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Wei-Wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Li-Fen
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ya-Qin
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4