Abstract
This study focuses on gene expression patterns and functions in human umbilical cord (UC) and dental pulp (DP) containing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). DP tissues were collected from 25 permanent premolars. UC tissue samples were obtained from three newborns. Comparative gene profiles were obtained using cDNA microarray analysis and the expression of tooth development-associated and MSC-related genes was assessed by the quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Genes related to cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and immune responses were expressed at higher levels in UC, whereas genes related to growth factor and receptor activity and signal transduction were more highly expressed in DP. Although UC and DP tissues exhibited similar expression of surface markers for MSCs, UC showed higher expression of CD29, CD34, CD44, CD73, CD105, CD146, and CD166. qRT-PCR analysis showed that CD146, CD166, and MYC were expressed 18.3, 8.24, and 1.63 times more highly in UC, whereas the expression of CD34 was 2.15 times higher in DP. Immunohistochemical staining revealed significant differences in the expression of genes (DSPP, DMP1, and CALB1) related to odontogenesis and angiogenesis in DP. DP and UC tissue showed similar gene expression, with the usual MSC markers, while they clearly diverged in their differentiation capacity.
Highlights
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted a great deal of interest because of their potential application in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering
Potential alternative sources of MSCs and nonaggressive methods for the harvesting of stem cells have been investigated; in particular, the umbilical cord (UC) and dental pulp (DP) show great promise as source tissues because they contain a considerable number of cells with properties similar to those of MSCs [3, 4]
The DP and UC tissues were immediately submerged in Buffer RLT, which is a proprietary component of the RNeasy Fibrous Mini Kit5 (Qiagen, Valencia, CA, USA)
Summary
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted a great deal of interest because of their potential application in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. MSCs are highly proliferative and adherent fibrotic cells that express characteristic cell surface markers and retain self-renewing capacity with the potential of differentiating into various tissues including bone, muscle, cartilage, fat, and nerve [1]. MSCs derived from bone marrow are well characterized, the harvest of stem cells from the bone marrow is a highly invasive procedure with a considerable risk of donor site morbidity. Potential alternative sources of MSCs and nonaggressive methods for the harvesting of stem cells have been investigated; in particular, the umbilical cord (UC) and dental pulp (DP) show great promise as source tissues because they contain a considerable number of cells with properties similar to those of MSCs [3, 4]. UCMSCs have shown an odontogenic differentiation potential to differentiate into odontoblast-like cells in an odontogenic microenvironment [5]
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