Open AccessPostnatal periodontal ligament as a novel adult stem cell source for regenerative corneal cell therapy
Author(s) -
Yam Gary HinFai,
Teo Ericia PeiWen,
Setiawan Melina,
Lovatt Matthew J,
Yusoff Nur Zahirah Binte M,
Fuest Matthias,
Goh BeeTin,
Mehta Jodhbir S
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/jcmm.13589
Subject(s) - stem cell , stromal cell , biology , stroma , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , adult stem cell , population , regeneration (biology) , cellular differentiation , immunology , medicine , cancer research , environmental health , biochemistry , immunohistochemistry , gene
Corneal opacities are a leading cause of global blindness. They are conventionally treated by the transplantation of donor corneal tissue, which is, restricted by a worldwide donor material shortage and allograft rejection. Autologous adult stem cells with a potential to differentiate into corneal stromal keratocytes ( CSK s) could offer a suitable choice of cells for regenerative cell therapy. Postnatal periodontal ligament ( PDL ) contains a population of adult stem cells, which has a similar embryological origin as CSK , that is cranial neural crest. We harvested PDL cells from young adult teeth extracted because of non‐functional or orthodontic reason and differentiated them towards CSK phenotype using a two‐step protocol with spheroid formation followed by growth factor and cytokine induction in a stromal environment (human amnion stroma and porcine corneal stroma). Our results showed that the PDL ‐differentiated CSK ‐like cells expressed CSK markers ( CD 34, ALDH 3A1, keratocan, lumican, CHST 6, B3 GNT 7 and Col8A2) and had minimal expression of genes related to fibrosis and other lineages (vasculogenesis, adipogenesis, myogenesis, epitheliogenesis, neurogenesis and hematogenesis). Introduction of PDL spheroids into the stroma of porcine corneas resulted in extensive migration of cells inside the host stroma after 14‐day organ culture. Their quiescent nature and uniform cell distribution resembled to that of mature CSK s inside the native stroma. Our results demonstrated the potential translation of PDL cells for regenerative corneal cell therapy for corneal opacities.