title: Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs): isolation, enrichment and comparative differentiation of two sub-populations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human dental pulp represents a suitable alternative source of stem cells for the purpose of cell-based therapies in regenerative medicine, because it is relatively easy to obtain it, using low invasive procedures. This study characterized and compared two subpopulations of adult stem cells derived from human dental pulp (hDPSCs). Human DPSCs, formerly immune-selected for STRO-1 and c-Kit, were separated for negativity and positivity to CD34 expression respectively, and evaluated for cell proliferation, stemness maintenance, cell senescence and multipotency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The STRO-1(+)/c-Kit(+)/CD34(+) hDPSCs showed a slower proliferation, gradual loss of stemness, early cell senescence and apoptosis, compared to STRO-1(+)/c-Kit(+)/CD34(-) hDPSCs. Both the subpopulations demonstrated similar abilities to differentiate towards mesoderm lineages, whereas a significant difference was observed after the neurogenic induction, with a greater commitment of STRO-1(+)/c-Kit(+)/CD34(+) hDPSCs. Moreover, undifferentiated STRO-1(+)/c-Kit(+)/CD34(-) hDPSCs did not show any expression of CD271 and nestin, typical neural markers, while STRO-1(+)/c-Kit(+)/CD34(+) hDPSCs expressed both.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that STRO-1(+)/c-Kit(+)/CD34(-) hDPSCs and STRO-1(+)/c-Kit(+)/CD34(+) hDPSCs might represent two distinct stem cell populations, with different properties. These results trigger further analyses to deeply investigate the hypothesis that more than a single stem cell population resides within the dental pulp, to better define the flexibility of application of hDPSCs in regenerative medicine.
authors: Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with interest in Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. alessandra.pisciotta@unimore.it.
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Pisciotta
authors: Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with interest in Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. gianluca.carnevale@unimore.it.
authors: Gianluca
authors: G
authors: Carnevale
authors: Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with interest in Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. simona-meloni@tiscali.it.
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Meloni
authors: Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with interest in Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. massimo.riccio@unimore.it.
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Riccio
authors: Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with interest in Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. sara.debiasi@unimore.it.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: De Biasi
authors: Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with interest in Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. lara.gibellini@unimore.it.
authors: Lara
authors: L
authors: Gibellini
authors: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neuroscience, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Children Rehabilitation Special Unit, IRCCS Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy. adriano.ferrari@unimore.it.
authors: Adriano
authors: A
authors: Ferrari
authors: Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with interest in Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. gbruzzesi@libero.it.
authors: Giacomo
authors: G
authors: Bruzzesi
authors: Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with interest in Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. anto.depol@unimore.it.
authors: Anto
authors: A
authors: De Pol
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000276:immunology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C525591:STRO-1 antigen, human; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit