Neural derivation of human dental pulp stem cells via neurosphere technique

Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) are multipotent stem cells providing an autologous noninvasive cell source. The study evaluates the neurogenic potential of hDPSCs using neural growth factor inducers and neurosphere technique.

The hDPSCs were differentiated into neurons using neural induction medium containing retinoic acid (RA). Neuroprogenitor cells were evaluated for nestin and NF68 using immunocytochemistry. The mature neuron markers, MAP‑2 and β-tubulin, were investigated at the end stage of induction phase.

The neuroprogenitor differentiation was confirmed by immunostaining for nestin and NF68 markers. The differentiated neurons were positive for specific neuron markers, namely for MAP‑2 and β-tubulin. The results indicated that the neural differentiation medium and neurosphere technique improve the generation of neuroprogenitor cells as well as mature neurons via exhibiting specific neural markers, namely nestin, NF68, MAP‑2 and β-tubulin.

Our findings highlight the differentiation capacity of hDPSCs via neurosphere technique in the presence of neural inducers for mesenchymal stem cells. It is suggested that the neural differentiation potential of hDPSCs can be exploited as a source of stem cells for therapy of neurodegenerative diseases (Fig. 5, Ref. 20).