Dental stem cell sphere formation and potential for neural regeneration: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND

Dental stem cells with neurosphere-forming abilities are a promising cell source for the treatment of neural diseases and injuries. This scoping review aimed to systematically map the existing literature on dental sphere formation assays and their characteristics associated with neural regeneration potential.

METHODS

The Web of Science, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and PubMed databases were systematically searched for , animal, and clinical studies and reviews focusing on stem cells isolated from the oral cavity, subsequently cultured as spheres with neural regeneration potential. Data were extracted and evidence was synthesized according to the predetermined variables in the registered protocol.

RESULTS

A total of 35 articles (31 , 1 combined and , and 3 reviews) were included. The predominant method utilized for sphere formation was low-attachment culture. Spheres were characterized using assessment of neural marker expression confocal microscopy, immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, or western blotting. Overall, the synthesized results indicate a lack of studies investigating the utility of dental neurospheres for neural regeneration, with dental pulp stem cells being the most investigated for their neural regenerative potential.

CONCLUSION

Dental stem cell spheres demonstrate significant potential for neural regeneration. Several assays and characterizations have been performed to characterized the mechanisms underlying dental sphere formation. Furthermore, studies are imperative to deduce the neural regenerative potential of stem cells in complex biological environments.