title: Characterization of mesenchymal progenitor cell populations from non-epithelial oral mucosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The characteristics of cell populations extracted from oral mucosal non-epithelial tissues and their ability to differentiate were evaluated in vitro as a potential source of cells for mandibular and corneal regeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oral mucosal non-epithelial cells (OMNECs) were extracted from tissue samples and were studied by flow cytometry and RT-PCR. Cells differentiating into osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, neurocytes, or keratocytes were characterized by RT-PCR and cell staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OMNECs expressed CD44, CD90, CD105, CD166, and STRO-1 antigens, which are markers for mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, Oct3/4, c-Myc, Nanog, KLF4, and Rex, which are expressed by embryonic or pluripotent stem cells, were detected by RT-PCR. Expression of CD49d, CD56, and PDGFRα, proteins closely associated with the neural crest, was observed in OMNECs, as was expression of Twist1, Sox9, Snail1 and Snail2, which are early neural crest and neural markers. Specific differentiation markers were expressed in OMNECs after differentiation into osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, or keratocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Populations of OMNECs may contain both mesenchymal stem cells and neural crest origin cells and are a potential cell source for autologous regeneration of mandibular or corneal stroma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Higa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takaichi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tonogi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shinozaki
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shimazaki
authors.forename: G-y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Yamane
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D016370:Gene Products, rex / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein / Q000235:genetics; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D016370:Gene Products, rex; C000715467:KLF4 protein, human; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; C489427:MYC protein, human; C486780:NANOG protein, human; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; C525591:STRO-1 antigen, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha
keywords: corneal stroma; differentiation; mesenchymal stem cells; neural crest; oral mucosa; regeneration