Comparison of periodontal ligament and gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells for regenerative therapies.
OBJECTIVE
Tissue-engineering therapies using undifferentiated mesenchymal cells (MSCs) from intra-oral origin have been tested in experimental animals. This experimental study compared the characteristics of undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells from either periodontal ligament or gingival origin, aiming to establish the basis for the future use of these cells on regenerative therapies.


METHODS
Gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) were obtained from de-epithelialized gingival biopsies, enzymatically digested and expanded in conditions of exponential growth. Their growth characteristics, phenotype, and differentiation ability were compared with those of periodontal ligament-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PDLMSCs).


RESULTS
Both periodontal ligament- and gingiva-derived cells displayed a MSC-like phenotype and were able to differentiate into osteoblasts, chondroblasts, and adipocytes. These cells were genetically stable following in vitro expansion and did not generate tumors when implanted in immunocompromised mice. Furthermore, under suboptimal growth conditions, GMSCs proliferated with higher rates than PDLMSCs.


CONCLUSIONS
Stem cells derived from gingival biopsies represent bona fide MSCs and have demonstrated genetic stability and lack of tumorigenicity.


CONCLUSIONS
Gingiva-derived MSCs may represent an accessible source of messenchymal stem cells to be used in future periodontal regenerative therapies.
Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas (CIB-CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain.|ETEP Research Group, Faculty of Odontology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain.
Silvia
S
Santamaría
ETEP Research Group, Faculty of Odontology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain.
Nerea
N
Sanchez
ETEP Research Group, Faculty of Odontology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain.
Mariano
M
Sanz
Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas (CIB-CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain. jasanz@cib.csic.es.
Jose A
JA
Garcia-Sanz
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology*; D010641:Phenotype; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
Gingival; Mesenchymal stem cells; Periodontal ligament; Periodontal regeneration; Tissue engineering