title: Tooth Germ-Like Construct Transplantation for Whole-Tooth Regeneration: An In Vivo Study in the Miniature Pig.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of whole-tooth regeneration using a tooth germ-like construct. Dental pulp from upper incisors, canines, premolars, and molars were extracted from sexually mature miniature pigs. Pulp tissues were cultured and expanded in vitro to obtain dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), and cells were differentiated into odontoblasts and osteoblasts. Epithelial cells were isolated from gingival epithelium. The epithelial cells, odontoblasts, and osteoblasts were seeded onto the surface, upper, and lower layers, respectively, of a bioactive scaffold. The lower first and second molar tooth germs were removed bilaterally and the layered cell/scaffold constructs were transplanted to the mandibular alveolar socket of a pig. At 13.5 months postimplantation, seven of eight pigs developed two teeth with crown, root, and pulp structures. Enamel-like tissues, dentin, cementum, odontoblasts, and periodontal tissues were found upon histological inspection. The regenerated tooth expressed dentin matrix protein-1 and osteopontin. All pigs had regenerated molar teeth regardless of the original tooth used to procure the DPSCs. Pigs that had tooth germs removed or who received empty scaffolds did not develop teeth. Although periodontal ligaments were generated, ankylosis was found in some animals. This study revealed that implantation of a tooth germ-like structure generated a complete tooth with a high success rate. The implant location may influence the morphology of the regenerated tooth.
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Technology, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Graduate Institute of Biomedical Materials & Tissue Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kai-Chiang
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Matsumoto Dental University, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Orthopedics, En Chu Kong Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chang-Chin
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hao-Hueng
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Thai-Yen
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzong-Fu
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014070:Tooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D014083:Tooth Germ / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Dental pulp stem cell; Odontoblast; Odontogenesis; Tooth germ; Tooth regeneration