Immunomodulatory properties of dental tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells

In addition to their well‐established self‐renewal and multipotent differentiation properties, mesenchymal stem cells ( MSC s) also possess potent immunomodulatory functions both in vitro and in vivo , which render them a potential novel immunotherapeutic tool for a variety of autoimmune and inflammation‐related diseases. The major mechanisms may involve (1) the secretion of an array of soluble factors such as prostaglandin E 2 ( PGE 2 ), indoleamine 2, 3‐dioxygenase ( IDO ), transforming growth factor‐β ( TGF ‐β), and human leukocyte antigen G 5 ( HLA ‐ G 5); (2) interactions between MSC s and immune cells such as T cells, B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Recently, increasing evidence has supported that MSC s derived from dental tissues are promising alternative sources of multipotent MSC s. We here provide a thorough and extensive review about new findings in the immunomodulatory functions of MSC s derived from several dental tissues, including dental pulp, periodontal ligament, gingiva, exfoliated deciduous teeth, apical papilla, and dental follicle, respectively. The immunomodulatory properties of dental MSC s place them as a more accessible cell source than bone marrow‐derived MSC s for cell‐based therapy of immune and inflammation‐related diseases.