Abstract
Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) are non-embryonic, mesenchymal stem cells that may have significant potential for therapeutic and regenerative biomedical applications. Studies of DPSC differentiation have demonstrated the potential to form many tissue types, including neural, osteogenic and vascular precursors using cytokines and growth factors, such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). Eight previously isolated Dental Pulp Stem Cell (DPSC) isolates were grown in culture and treated with VEGF to evaluate any effects on growth, viability or biomarker expression. Administration of VEGF at 10 ng/mL significantly inhibited growth in two rapidly dividing or rDT DPSC isolates, with no other measurable effects noted among the intermediate (iDT) or slow (sDT) growing DPSC isolates. In addition, administration of VEGF had no significant effects on viability of the sDT or iDT DPSC isolates, however, all three of the rapidly dividing or rDT DPSC isolates exhibited significantly increased viability. Finally, mRNA expression of osteogenic biomarkers Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Dentin Sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) was observed among the rDT isolates with specific combinations of DPSC biomarkers expressed (NANOG in combination with Sox-2 or Oct-4 but not both). The results of these data suggest that VEGF administration may be sufficient to induce partial differentiation of DPSC isolates, although this may be dependent upon the MSC biomarker expression of the DPSCs. These preliminary data may further research into the potential for tissue regeneration and bioengineering.
Highlights
Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) are non-embryonic, mesenchymal stem cells than can be obtained, isolated, cultured and cryopreserved with relative ease compared with other potential sources, which has driven recent scientific research into their potential for therapeutic applications (Ferro et al, 2014; Gronthos et al, 2011; Collart-Dutilleul et al, 2015)
To determine any effects on DPSC phenotypes, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was administered in 96-well assays (Fig. 1). These results demonstrated that the majority of DPSC isolates were not significantly affected by Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) administration, p>0.05
To evaluate if the observed changes in proliferation and cellular growth correlated with any changes to other DPSC phenotypes, cellular viability was measured under VEGF administration (Fig. 2)
Summary
Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) are non-embryonic, mesenchymal stem cells than can be obtained, isolated, cultured and cryopreserved with relative ease compared with other potential sources, which has driven recent scientific research into their potential for therapeutic applications (Ferro et al, 2014; Gronthos et al, 2011; Collart-Dutilleul et al, 2015). Harvested from the dental pulp of primary teeth, extracted teeth, or avulsed teeth, DPSCs are multi-potent stem cells that may be useful to facilitate advanced regenerative therapies (Kabir et al, 2014; Aurrekoetxea et al, 2015). These studies have provided a better overall understanding of the capabilities of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) and DPSCs, with recent evidence demonstrating that differentiation potential may depend, in part, on the tissue of origin used in MSC harvesting (Masthan et al, 2013; Isobe et al, 2016; Hernández-Monjaraz et al, 2018). Some evidence suggests that individual growth factors, such as Vascular Endothelial
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