Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs): isolation, enrichment and comparative differentiation of two sub-populations

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Background Human dental pulp represents a suitable alternative source of stem cells for the purpose of cell-based therapies in regenerative medicine, because it is relatively easy to obtain it, using low invasive procedures. This study characterized and compared two subpopulations of adult stem cells derived from human dental pulp (hDPSCs). Human DPSCs, formerly immune-selected for STRO-1 and c-Kit, were separated for negativity and positivity to CD34 expression respectively, and evaluated for cell proliferation, stemness maintenance, cell senescence and multipotency. Results The STRO-1(+)/c-Kit(+)/CD34(+) hDPSCs showed a slower proliferation, gradual loss of stemness, early cell senescence and apoptosis, compared to STRO-1(+)/c-Kit(+)/CD34(-) hDPSCs. Both the subpopulations demonstrated similar abilities to differentiate towards mesoderm lineages, whereas a significant difference was observed after the neurogenic induction, with a greater commitment of STRO-1(+)/c-Kit(+)/CD34(+) hDPSCs. Moreover, undifferentiated STRO-1(+)/c-Kit(+)/CD34(-) hDPSCs did not show any expression of CD271 and nestin, typical neural markers, while STRO-1(+)/c-Kit(+)/CD34(+) hDPSCs expressed both. Conclusions These results suggest that STRO-1(+)/c-Kit(+)/CD34(-) hDPSCs and STRO-1(+)/c-Kit(+)/CD34(+) hDPSCs might represent two distinct stem cell populations, with different properties. These results tri

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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