Deciduous dental pulp stem cells are involved in osteoclastogenesis during physiologic root resorption

Area of Science:

• Dental stem cells
• Craniofacial development
• Mineralization and resorption

Background:

• Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells from dental pulp can generate bone and dentin.
• The specific function of deciduous dental pulp stem cells (DDPSCs) in physiological root resorption is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of DDPSCs in physiological root resorption.
• To compare DDPSCs with permanent dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) across different resorption stages.

Main Methods:

• Dental pulp stem cells were retrieved from permanent teeth and deciduous incisors at stable, middle, and final root resorption stages.
• Histological analysis identified osteoclasts and resorption lacunae.
• DDPSC proliferation, calcified nodule formation, and gene expression (ALP, RANKL, OPG, Dkk1) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Osteoclasts and resorption lacunae were most abundant in the middle resorption stage.
• DDPSC proliferation peaked in the middle stage, while mineralization (indicated by ALP) was highest in the final stage.
• The RANKL/OPG ratio, crucial for resorption, was higher in the middle stage, and Wnt pathway inhibition (Dkk1) was observed in later stages.

Conclusions:

• DDPSCs actively influence osteoclastogenesis and mineralization during physiological root resorption.
• The canonical Wnt pathway can modulate the RANKL/OPG ratio in DDPSCs, impacting resorption.
• Findings highlight DDPSCs' dynamic role in root remodeling.