Abstract
Stem cells are biological cells that can self-renew and can differentiate into multiple cell lineages. Stem cell-based therapy is emerging as a promising alternative therapeutic option for various disorders. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent adult stem cells that are isolated from various tissues and can be used as an alternative to embryonic stem cells. Stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs) are a novel population of MSCs residing in the apical papilla of immature permanent teeth. SCAPs present the characteristics of expression of MSCs markers, self-renewal, proliferation, migration, differentiation, and immunosuppression, which support the application of SCAPs in stem cell-based therapy, including the immunotherapy and the regeneration of dental tissues, bone, neural, and vascular tissues. In view of these properties and therapeutic potential, SCAPs can be considered as promising candidates for stem cell-based therapy. Thus the aim of our review was to summarize the current knowledge of SCAPs considering isolation, characterization, and multilineage differentiation. The prospects for their use in stem cell-based therapy were also discussed.
Highlights
Stem cells are biological cells that can self-renew and can differentiate into multiple cell lineages
Similar to other Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), SCAPs express STRO-1 and CD146 that are recognized as early MSCs markers [1]
The isolation of SCAPs from dental tissue along with discovery of their properties has provided a conceptual framework of their nature and potential application
Summary
Stem cells are biological cells that can self-renew and can differentiate into multiple cell lineages. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent adult stem cells that are isolated from various tissues. Dental-tissue-derived MSClike populations have been isolated and characterized. Stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs) residing in the apical papilla of immature permanent teeth represent a novel population of dental MSCs that possesses the properties of high proliferative potential, the self-renewal ability, and low immunogenicity [1]. Considerable evidence indicates that SCAPs are capable of giving rise to various lineages of cells, such as osteogenic, odontogenic, neurogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic, and hepatogenic cells, which can be as a promising source for stem cell-based therapy (Figure 1) [1,2,3,4]. The aim of our review was to summarize the basics of biology of SCAPs, and the prospects for their use in stem cellbased therapy were discussed
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