Stem Cell-based Dental Pulp Regeneration: Insights From Signaling Pathways

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Stem Cell Biology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Deep caries, trauma, and severe periodontitis lead to pulp loss, with no current clinical therapies capable of regenerating lost pulp tissue.
• Signaling transduction pathways are crucial for regulating the regenerative potential of dental stem cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore novel strategies for dental pulp regeneration through the modulation of signaling transduction pathways.
• To review current preclinical and clinical advancements in pulp regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Review of preclinical studies employing signaling modulation techniques like growth factor delivery, genetic modification, and physical stimulation.
• Analysis of cell transplantation and cell homing strategies for pulp regeneration.
• Examination of clinically applicable growth factor delivery systems.

Main Results:

• Growth factors (SDF, FGF, BMP, VEGF, WNT) promote key stem cell behaviors like migration, proliferation, odontogenic differentiation, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis.
• Scaffold-based transplantation of dental stem cells and growth factors regenerated vascularized pulp-like tissue.
• Flowable scaffolds with chemokines successfully recruited endogenous stem cells for pulp regeneration.

Conclusions:

• Elaborate spatial and temporal modulation of signaling transduction via clinically applicable growth factor delivery offers a novel strategy for structural and functional pulp regeneration.
• Future research must address challenges including unphysiological signaling activation, controlled drug release, and gene modulation safety for clinical translation.