title: Human dental follicle cells express embryonic, mesenchymal and neural stem cells markers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to identify and characterize dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs) by analyzing expression of embryonic, mesenchymal and neural stem cells surface markers. Design Dental follicle cells (DFCs) were evaluated by immunocytochemistry using embryonic stem cells markers (OCT4 and SOX2), mesenchmal stem cells (MSCs) markers (Notch1, active Notch1, STRO, CD44, HLA-ABC, CD90), neural stem cells markers (Nestin and β-III-tubulin), neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) markers (p75 and HNK1) and a glial cells marker (GFAP). RT-PCR was performed to identify the expression of OCT4 and NANOG in DFCs and dental follicle tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR analysis revealed that a significant proportion of the DFCs evaluated expressed human embryonic stem cells marker OCT4 (75%) whereas NANOG was weakly expressed. A considerable amount of MSCs (90%) expressed Notch1, STRO, CD44 and HLA-ABC. However, they were weakly positive for CD90. Moreover, it was possible to demonstrate that dental follicle contains a significant proportion of neural stem/progenitors cells, expressing β-III-tubulin (90%) and nestin (70%). Interestingly, immunocytochemistry showed DFCs positive for p75 (50%), HNK1 (<10%) and a small proportion (<20%) of GFAP-positive cells. This is the first study reporting the presence of NCSCs and glial-like cells in the dental follicle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study suggest the occurrence of heterogeneous populations of stem cells, particularly neural stem/progenitor cells, in the dental follicle, Therefore, the human dental follicle might be a promising source of adult stem cells for regenerative purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: rolopeslima@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Lopes
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Morphogenesis, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosenilde Carvalho
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Holanda-Afonso
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Morphogenesis, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vivaldo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moura-Neto
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bolognese
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Morphogenesis, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Fabio
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: DosSantos
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Margareth Maria
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Souza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D003795:Dental Sac / Q000166:cytology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000378:metabolism*; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins
keywords: Dental stem cells; Human dental follicle; Mesenchymal stem cells; Neural stem cells; Regenerative medicine