Induced Migration of Dental Pulp Stem Cells for in vivo Pulp Regeneration

Abstract

Dental pulp has intrinsic capacity for self-repair. However, it is not clear whether dental pulp cells can be recruited endogenously for regenerating pulp tissues, including mineralizing into dentin. This work is based on a hypothesis that dental pulp stem/progenitor cells can be induced to migrate by chemotactic cytokines and act as endogenous cell sources for regeneration and mineralization. Dental stem cells (DSCs) were isolated from adult human tooth pulp and seeded on the surfaces of 3D collagen gel cylinders that were incubated in chemically defined media with stromal-derived factor-1α (SDF1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), or bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP7). Significantly more cells were recruited into collagen gel by SDF1 or bFGF than without cytokines in 7 days, whereas BMP7 had little effect on cell recruitment. BMP7, however, was highly effective, equally to dexamethasone, in orchestrating mineralization of cultured DSCs. Cell membrane receptors for SDF1, bFGF, and BMP7 were up-regulated in treated DSCs. Upon in vivo delivery, bFGF induced re-cellularization and re-vascularization in endodontically treated human teeth implanted into the dorsum of rats. Thus, endogenous dental pulp cells, including stem/progenitor cells, may be recruited and subsequently differentiated by chemotaxis of selective cytokines in the regeneration of dental pulp.

A 3D ex vivo mandible slice system for longitudinal culturing of transplanted dental pulp progenitor cells

“…It has been well established that mineralized tissues, specifically both bone and dentine, contain a significant reservoir of sequestered bioactive factors 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. Here it is possible that when presented with a “damaged” dentin surface, these factors were at work in recruiting the injected cGFP‐DPPCs to the site of the “injury.” Osteopontin is expressed by cells in a variety of tissues, including bone, dentin and hypertrophic cartilage; it is a key early marker of mineralized tissue matrix repair and has been postulated to play a role in initially attaching migrated DPPCs to a repair site 35, 36.…”

Polymer-Based Reconstruction of the Inferior Vena Cava in Rat: Stem Cells or RGD Peptide?

“…Indeed, the use of different bioactive peptides as substitutes for cell therapy has been successfully tested in cardiac regeneration and other specialties. 17,[39][40][41][42] In the present study, we selected RGD, a tripeptide composed of arginine-glycine-aspartate that mimics the integrin-binding site of cells and the extracellular matrix 43 and has already been successfully tested as a biofunctionalization motif. 44 Grafting of RGD on a polymer was compared, again in a head-to-head fashion, with ADSC selected because of their ease of procurement, richness of their secretome, and potential for human applications.…”

Hydrogels in Regenerative Medicine

“…The controllability of deterioration and release behavior, its adaptability in the clinical setting for minimally invasive surgical procedures, and its ability to remain three-dimensional (3D) after gelling mean that these hydrogels can be used in medical practice [64]. In dental tissue engineering, injectable hydrogels are used to replace countless tissues, especially cartilage, bones, nerves, blood vessels, and soft tissues.…”