Multipotent stem cells from apical pulp of human deciduous teeth with immature apex

Isolation of high-quality human postnatal stem cells from accessible sources is an important goal for dental tissue engineering. Stem cells from developing organs are a better cell source but are hard to obtain. With extensive caries that are difficult to restore, the extracted deciduous tooth with an immature apex is a developing organ for investigation. In the present study, a cell population from the tip of apical pulp of human deciduous teeth with an immature apex was isolated and termed apical pulp-derived cells of deciduous teeth (De-APDCs). De-APDCs expressed STRO-1, CD44, CD90 and CD105 but not CD34 or CD45. Furthermore, De-APDCs demonstrated a significantly higher clonogenic and proliferative ability and osteo/dentinogenic differentiation capacity than dental pulp cells from exfoliated deciduous teeth (De-DPCs) (P < 0.05). Differentiation potential toward adipogenic, neurogenic and chondrogenic lineages was also observed in induced De-APDCs. In addition, after De-APDCs were seeded into hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate (HA/TCP) scaffolds and transplanted into nude mice, they were able to regenerate dentin/pulp-like structures aligned with human odontoblast-like cells. In conclusion, De-APDCs, which are derived from a developing tissue, represent an accessible and prospective cell source for tooth regeneration.