Reciprocal interaction between oral ectodermal epithelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-derived from the cranial neural crest starts the teeth development. The role of dental MSCs continues throughout life. The dental MSCs do not only play a role in tooth development but also in tooth homeostasis and repair. There are many kinds of dental MSCs, such as dental pulp stem cell (DPSC), stem cell from apical papilla (SCAP), stem cell from exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED), periodontal ligament stem cell (PDLSC) and stem cell from dental follicle (DFSC). Aligned with the proposed criteria by the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT), dental MSCs are adherent cells and like other MSCs, dental tissue MSCs are capable of giving rise to cell lineages such as osteo/odontogenic, adipogenic, and neurogenic. Various surface antigens of dental MSCs were reported, however, mostly typical antigens suggested by ISCT were fulfilled. Surface antigens from each dental MSCs (DPSC, SCAP, SHED, PDLSC and DFSC) are being described in the current report.Keywords: dental stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, tissue regeneration, DPSC, SCAP, SHED, PDLSC, DFSC

Background: Recently we have isolated and cultured dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) derived from impacted third molar (DPSC-M3). The DPSC-M3 was suggested as mesenchymal stem cell, however the cell surface markers were not completely clarified. Therefore current study was conducted to investigate the markers.Materials and Methods: Passage 5 DPSC-M3 was cultured, labeled and examined with flow cytometer. All markers were investigated according to the proposed cell surface marker panel for the minimal identification of human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) by International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT). The positive markers were cluster of differentiation (CD)90, CD73, CD105, while the negative markers were CD34, CD45, CD11b, CD19, and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-DR. Results: Results showed that the size and granularity of DPSC-M3 were ranged from 75 to 230 and 27 to 203, respectively. The cell surface antigens examination showed that CD90, CD105 and CD73 were highly expressed (>95%), meanwhile expressions of CD45, CD34, CD11b, CD19 and HLA-DR were <2%.Conclusion: Since the all markers expression were in accordance to the proposed cell surface marker panel for the minimal identification of human MSC by ISCT, DPSC-M3 could be suggested as an MSC.Keywords: dental pulp, stem cell, dental pulp stem cell, ISCT, flow cytometry