Dental pulp stem cells: function, isolation and applications in regenerative medicine.
Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are a promising source of cells for numerous and varied regenerative medicine applications. Their natural function in the production of odontoblasts to create reparative dentin support applications in dentistry in the regeneration of tooth structures. However, they are also being investigated for the repair of tissues outside of the tooth. The ease of isolation of DPSCs from discarded or removed teeth offers a promising source of autologous cells, and their similarities with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) suggest applications in musculoskeletal regenerative medicine. DPSCs are derived from the neural crest and, therefore, have a different developmental origin to BMSCs. These differences from BMSCs in origin and phenotype are being exploited in neurological and other applications. This review briefly highlights the source and functions of DPSCs and then focuses on in vivo applications across the breadth of regenerative medicine.
Tecnologica Research Institute, Regenerative Medicine Section, St. E. Fermi, Crotone, Italy.
Marco
M
Tatullo
Calabrodental, Maxillofacial Unit, St. E. Fermi, Crotone, Italy.
Massimo
M
Marrelli
Wolfson Centre for Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering and Modelling (STEM), School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, UK.
Kevin M
KM
Shakesheff
Wolfson Centre for Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering and Modelling (STEM), School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, UK.
Lisa J
LJ
White
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D003804:Dentin / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D009432:Neural Crest; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000166:cytology; D010641:Phenotype; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry; D014070:Tooth / Q000502:physiology
D051880:Receptors, Notch
angiogenesis; bone regeneration; dental pulp stem cells; isolation; neural regeneration; pulp regeneration