Sakai V T, Cordeiro M M, Dong Z, Zhang Z, Zeitlin B D, Nör J E
Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, 48109-1078, USA.
Adv Dent Res. 2011 Jul;23(3):325-32. doi: 10.1177/0022034511405325.
Multipotency is a defining characteristic of post-natal stem cells. The human dental pulp contains a small subpopulation of stem cells that exhibit multipotency, as demonstrated by their ability to differentiate into odontoblasts, neural cells, and vascular endothelial cells. These discoveries highlight the fundamental role of stem cells in the biology of the dental pulp and suggest that these cells are uniquely suited for dental pulp tissue-engineering purposes. The availability of experimental approaches specifically designed for studies of the differentiation potential of dental pulp stem cells has played an important role in these discoveries. The objective of this review is to describe the development and characterization of the Tooth Slice/Scaffold Model of Dental Pulp Tissue Engineering. In addition, we discuss the multipotency of dental pulp stem cells, focusing on the differentiation of these cells into functional odontoblasts and into vascular endothelial cells.
多能性是出生后干细胞的一个决定性特征。人类牙髓中含有一小部分具有多能性的干细胞亚群,这已通过它们分化为成牙本质细胞、神经细胞和血管内皮细胞的能力得到证明。这些发现突出了干细胞在牙髓生物学中的基础作用,并表明这些细胞特别适合用于牙髓组织工程目的。专门为研究牙髓干细胞分化潜能而设计的实验方法的可用性在这些发现中发挥了重要作用。本综述的目的是描述牙髓组织工程牙片/支架模型的发展和特性。此外,我们讨论牙髓干细胞的多能性,重点关注这些细胞向功能性成牙本质细胞和血管内皮细胞的分化。