Dental Stem Cells: Their Potential in Neurogenesis and Angiogenesis

Abstract

Both angiogenesis and neurogenesis play important roles during tissue repair in a broad range of diseases and disorders. Their endogenous activation, however, is not always adequate to completely repair the tissue, implying a drastic necessity for alternative treatments to induce or support angiogenesis and neurogenesis following serious tissue injuries. One promising alternative way is the use of stem cells to reinforce tissue repair processes, either by means of cell replacement or through the secretion of paracrine factors influencing endogenous cell populations. Among several stem cell sources that have been suggested as possible candidates to achieve these goals, dental stem cells (DSCs) appear to be a promising progenitor cell population to be used in angiogenic and neurogenic repair due to their developmental background. Within the tooth and its surrounding tissues, several stem cell populations can be distinguished, with each their own neurogenic and angiogenic properties. The most thoroughly investigated DSC subtype are dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), but stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs), stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs), dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs) and periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) have also been the subject of extensive research.