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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
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Primary Culture of Dental Pulp Stem Cells
Published on: May 5, 2023
Potential of dental mesenchymal cells in developing teeth
Hidetoshi Yamazaki1, Motokazu Tsuneto, Miya Yoshino
1Department of Physiology and Regenerative Medicine, Division of Genomics and Regenerative Biology, Institute of Medical Science, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu 514-8507, Japan. yamazaki@doc.medic.mie-u.ac.jp
Stem Cells (Dayton, Ohio)
|September 2, 2006
Summary
Neural crest (NC) cells in developing teeth can differentiate into odontoblasts, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts. This study reveals NC-derived cells in tooth development possess broader differentiation potential than previously known.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Craniofacial Development
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- Tooth development involves complex epithelium-mesenchyme interactions.
- Neural crest (NC) cells are crucial for craniofacial development and form dental mesenchyme, differentiating into odontoblasts.
- The full differentiation potential of dental mesenchymal cells beyond odontoblasts remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differentiation potential of dental mesenchymal cells derived from Neural crest (NC) cells.
- To determine if these cells can differentiate into lineages other than odontoblasts.
- To characterize the cell surface molecules of NC-derived dental mesenchymal cells.
Main Methods:
- Mesenchymal cells were isolated from E13.5 mouse tooth germs.
- Cells were cultured to assess differentiation potential.
- Neural crest (NC)-derived cells were traced using P0-Cre/Rosa26R mice (LacZ reporter system).
- Flow cytometry with fluorescent di-beta-D-galactosidase was used to detect living LacZ(+) cells and characterize cell surface molecules.
Main Results:
- Dental mesenchymal cells differentiated into odontoblast-like, chondrocyte-like, and osteoblast-like cells in culture.
- Tracing confirmed these differentiated cells originated from NC-derived cells.
- A significant population of NC-derived cells expressed platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha and integrins.
Conclusions:
- Neural crest (NC)-derived cells within the developing tooth possess multipotent differentiation capabilities.
- These cells can differentiate into chondrocyte-like and osteoblast-like lineages, in addition to odontoblasts.
- These findings suggest a broader role for NC-derived cells in tooth organogenesis and craniofacial development.
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