title: Capacity of Human Dental Follicle Cells to Differentiate into Neural CellsIn Vitro.
abstract: The dental follicle is an ectomesenchymal tissue surrounding the developing tooth germ. Human dental follicle cells (hDFCs) have the capacity to commit to differentiation into multiple cell types. Here we investigated the capacity of hDFCs to differentiate into neural cells and the efficiency of a two-step strategy involving floating neurosphere-like bodies for neural differentiation. Undifferentiated hDFCs showed a spindle-like morphology and were positive for neural markers such as nestin,β-III-tubulin, and S100β. The cellular morphology of several cells was neuronal-like including branched dendrite-like processes and neurites. Next, hDFCs were used for neurosphere formation in serum-free medium containing basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and B27 supplement. The number of cells with neuronal-like morphology and that were strongly positive for neural markers increased with sphere formation. Gene expression of neural markers also increased in hDFCs with sphere formation. Next, gene expression of neural markers was examined in hDFCs during neuronal differentiation after sphere formation. Expression ofMusashi-1andMusashi-2,MAP2,GFAP,MBP, andSOX10was upregulated in hDFCs undergoing neuronal differentiation via neurospheres, whereas expression ofnestinandβ-III-tubulinwas downregulated. In conclusion, hDFCs may be another optimal source of neural/glial cells for cell-based therapies to treat neurological diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4971-8876
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanao
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Japan; Research Institute of Oral Science, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Japan.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ogura
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Japan; Research Institute of Oral Science, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Japan; Research Institute of Oral Science, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Oral Science, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Japan; Department of Oral Pathology, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suemitsu
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Oral Science, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Japan; Department of Oral Pathology, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kayo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Japan; Research Institute of Oral Science, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Matsudo, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshirou
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1975-3286
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondoh