title: Human odontogenic epithelial cells derived from epithelial rests of Malassez possess stem cell properties.
abstract: Epithelial cell rests of Malassez (ERM) are quiescent epithelial remnants of the Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS) that are involved in the formation of tooth roots. ERM cells are unique epithelial cells that remain in periodontal tissues throughout adult life. They have a functional role in the repair/regeneration of cement or enamel. Here, we isolated odontogenic epithelial cells from ERM in the periodontal ligament, and the cells were spontaneously immortalized. Immortalized odontogenic epithelial (iOdE) cells had the ability to form spheroids and expressed stem cell-related genes. Interestingly, iOdE cells underwent osteogenic differentiation, as demonstrated by the mineralization activity in vitro in mineralization-inducing media and formation of calcification foci in iOdE cells transplanted into immunocompromised mice. These findings suggest that a cell population with features similar to stem cells exists in ERM and that this cell population has a differentiation capacity for producing calcifications in a particular microenvironment. In summary, iOdE cells will provide a convenient cell source for tissue engineering and experimental models to investigate tooth growth, differentiation, and tumorigenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsunematsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Healthcare Promotion, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Natsumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathobiology, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University Graduate School, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathobiology, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University Graduate School, Hiroshima, Japan.|Department of Oral Biology and Engineering, Division of Oral Health Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University Graduate School, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kujiraoka
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Physiopathology, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China.
authors.forename: Guangying
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Center of Oral Clinical Examination, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Masae
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Rieko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arakaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathobiology, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University Graduate School, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Mutsumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyauchi
authors.affiliation: Center of Oral Clinical Examination, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Ikuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Medicine and Pathology, Department of Human Biology and Pathophysiology, School of Dentistry, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abiko
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology and Engineering, Division of Oral Health Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University Graduate School, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathobiology, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University Graduate School, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Naozumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishimaru
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasusei
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0392-7720
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kudo
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D009805:Odontogenesis; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology*