Open AccessDental Pulp Stem Cells: A New Cellular Resource for Corneal Stromal Regeneration
Author(s) -
Syed-Picard Fatima N.,
Du Yiqin,
Lathrop Kira L.,
Mann Mary M.,
Funderburgh Martha L.,
Funderburgh James L.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
stem cells translational medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.781
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 2157-6580
pISSN - 2157-6564
DOI - 10.5966/sctm.2014-0115
Subject(s) - stromal cell , stem cell , stroma , microbiology and biotechnology , regeneration (biology) , corneal transplantation , biology , pathology , cornea , immunology , medicine , immunohistochemistry , neuroscience
Adult dental pulp cells (DPCs) isolated from human third molars have the capability to differentiate into keratocytes. After inducing differentiation in vitro, DPCs expressed molecules characteristic of keratocytes, keratocan, and keratan sulfate proteoglycans at the gene and protein levels. DPCs maintain the keratocyte phenotype after in vivo transplantation, demonstrating a potential for clinical application in cellular or tissue engineering therapies for corneal stromal blindness.