Characterisation of dental pulp stem cells: a new horizon for tissue regeneration?

Stem cells possess multipotent properties that allow them to differentiate into various cells, which may be potentially useful in tissue regeneration. Stem cell populations are reported to be present in various tissues of hematopoietic, neural and mesenchymal lineages, with the presence of stem cell populations in dental pulp tissue first described more than 10 years ago. The main components of dental pulp tissue are dental pulp cells, which are mesenchymal cells derived from the neural crest.(1,2) Some of these cells demonstrate high growth potential and possess multiple differentiation properties, and have been designated dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). These cell populations are present not only in adult pulp tissue, but also in deciduous tooth pulp and apical papilla. DPSCs isolated by different methods, such as high growth potential, using various surface markers, and high efflux of a fluorescent nuclear stain (Hoechst 33342), all show multipotency, however their surface marker expression is somewhat different from each other. In vivo studies have revealed the possibility use of DPSCs in the regeneration of various tissue. DPSCs are of dental pulp origin, and dental pulp tissue is regenerated from DPSCs. Many researchers have focused on the dentine- and bone-forming properties of DPSCs, but their neuronal and muscular differentiation capacity suggests they may have a wider clinical application.