Human dental pulp stem cells have a positive influence on neural regeneration

Abstract

Stem cell-based therapies can be a future novel strategy to repair peripheral nerve injury, based on their multilineage differentiation potential and ability to produce and secrete neuro(trophic) factors. Recently, a possible transdifferentiation of MSC into SC have been demonstrated which had a positive effect on neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth. In this study, dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) are differentiated toward SC via a mix of growth factors. In addition the influence of secreted neurotrophic factors bt DPSC and SC-DPSC on neuronal outgrowth and survival is investigated. After 21 days of differentiation, the expression of SC-markers, GFAP, p75 and S100 was observed together with a decreased expression of nestin and Stro-1. Ultrastructurally, SC-DPSC displayed a spindle-shaped bipolar morphology with numerous organelles spread throughout the cell cytoplasm. Furthermore, collagen fibers were observed in the extracellular matrix. DPSC and SC-DPSC produced and secreted several neurotrophic factors which promoted the survival and neurite outgrowth in DRG cultures, with SC-DPSC yielding a significantly better effect than control DPSC. The results of this study indicate that DPSC are capable of differentiating towards SC. Moreover, differentiated DPSC had a better neuroprotective and neurotrophic effect than naïve stem cells suggesting that DPSC can be good candidates for cell-based therapies as treatment for peripheral nerve injuries.