| 1130 Isolation and Characterization of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells | ||
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B.-M. SEO1, M. MIURA1, S. BATOULI1, J. BRAHIM1, S. GRONTHOS2, P.M. BARTOLD3, C.-Y. WANG4, P. ROBEY5, and S. SHI1, 1NIDCR/NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA, 2Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, 3University of Adelaide, Adelaide University SA, Australia, 4University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, 5Natl Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Rsch NIDCR, Bethesda, MD, USA Objectives: Periodontal ligament is a specialized connective tissue that connects cementum of teeth and alveolar bone of the maxillary and mandible to maintain teeth in situ, support teeth for function, preserve tissue homeostasis, and actively attribute to the process of tissue repair and regeneration. Whether periodontal ligament contains stem cell has not been determined. Method: We use in vitro and in vivo stem cell biology techniques to isolate and charaterize stem cell population in human PDL. Result: In this study, we provide direct evidence to suggest that periodontal ligament contains an extremely high frequency of clonogenic stem cells that are capable of differentiating into cementoblasts, adipocytes, and fibroblasts. Those periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC) expressed mesenchymal stem cell markers, STRO-1 and MUC18, and a high level of a tendon specific marker, Scleraxis (SCX), that can be used to distinguish PDLSCs from other stem cells such as dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSSCs). When transplanted into immunocompromised mice, PDLSCs generate a cementum-like structure along with a PDL-like connective tissue. Analysis of 12 single-colony strains of PDLSCs demonstrated different developmental potential between individual PDLSC clones, suggesting a hierarchical organization. Furthermore, we examined the capability of PDLSCs to repair periodontal defects in immunodeficient rats. Conclusions: We demonstrate here a novel approach to isolate and characterize a population of putative post-natal stem cells and subsequently pursued potential of using these stem cells for therapeutic purpose. This study revealed that human periodontal ligament is an unexpected reservoir for putative post-natal stem cells and provides a potential resource for stem cell-mediated treatment of periodontal disease. | ||
| Seq #117 - Bioengineering – Hard-tissue Regeneration 10:15 AM-11:30 AM, Thursday, 11 March 2004 Hawaii Convention Center Exhibit Hall 1-2 | ||
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