Carious deciduous teeth are a potential source for dental pulp stem cells.

Area of Science:

• Dental stem cell research
• Regenerative medicine
• Tissue engineering

Background:

• Deciduous teeth pulp contains valuable stem cells.
• Carious teeth are often discarded, potentially wasting stem cell resources.
• Understanding stem cell potential from carious sources is crucial for regenerative applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate, cultivate, and characterize stem cells from carious deciduous teeth (SCCD).
• To compare SCCD with stem cells from sound deciduous teeth (SHED).
• To assess the feasibility of using SCCD for cell-based therapies.

Main Methods:

• Dental pulp cells were isolated from sound and carious deciduous teeth.
• Proliferation rates, surface marker expression (STRO-1, mesenchymal, hematopoietic), and differentiation capacity were evaluated.
• Isolation success rates were compared between carious and sound groups.

Main Results:

• Isolation success rates were 70% for carious and 80% for sound teeth.
• SCCD and SHED exhibited similar proliferation rates and immunophenotypical profiles.
• Both cell types expressed mesenchymal markers (CD29, CD73, CD90) and lacked hematopoietic markers.
• Cells from both sources differentiated into osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic lineages.

Conclusions:

• Stem cells from carious deciduous teeth (SCCD) possess similar characteristics to SHED.
• SCCD are a feasible and applicable source for stem cells in regenerative medicine.
• This study highlights the potential of utilizing carious deciduous teeth for therapeutic purposes.