SSEA-4 positive dental pulp stem cells from deciduous teeth and their induction to neural precursor cells

Stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 (SSEA-4) is a marker for the identification of multipotent embryonic cells. It is also positive in neuroepithelial cells, precursor neural cells (NPC), and human dental pulp cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential morphodifferentiation and histodifferentiation to NPC of SSEA-4 positive stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED).

A SHED population in culture, positive to SSEA-4, was obtained by magnetic cell separation. The cells were characterized by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Subsequently, a neurosphere assay was performed in a medium supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF); afterward, cells were neurodifferenciated with a neurobasal medium. Finally, indirect immunohistochemistry was performed to identify neuronal markers.

The morphological and histological changes in the SSEA-4 positive SHEDs were observed after induction with epidermal and fibroblast growth factors in neurobasal culture medium. At the end of induction, the markers Nestin, TuJ-1, and GFAP were identified.

The findings show that SSEA-4 positive SHEDs have a behavior similar to neuronal precursor cells. Our findings indicate that the dental pulp of deciduous teeth is a promising source for regeneration therapies associated with neurodegenerative diseases or peripheral nerve alterations.