Isolation and characterization of feline dental pulp stem cells

The aim of this study was to isolate feline dental pulp stem cells (fDPSCs) and characterize their clonogenic and proliferative abilities, as well as their multipotency, immunophenotype and cytogenetic stability.

Dental pulp was isolated by explant culture from two cats <1 year old at post mortem. Their clonogenicity was characterized using a colony-forming unit fibroblast assay, and their proliferative ability was quantified with a doubling time assay in passages 2, 4 and 6 (P₂, P₄ and P₆, respectively). Multipotency was characterized with an in vitro trilineage differentiation assay in P₂, and cells were immunophenotyped in P₄ by flow cytometry. Chromosomic stability was evaluated by cytogenetic analysis in P₂, P₄ and P₆.

The fDPSCs displayed spindle and epithelial-like morphologies. Isolated cells showed a marked clonogenic capacity and doubling time was maintained from P₂ to P₆. Trilineage differentiation was obtained in one sample, while the other showed osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. Immunophenotypic analysis showed fDPSCs were CD45^-, CD90⁺ and CD44⁺. Structural and numerical cytogenetic aberrations were observed in P₂-P₄.

In this study, fDPSCs from two cats were isolated by explant culture and immunophenotyped. Cells displayed clonogenic and proliferative ability, and multipotency in vitro, and signs of chromosomic instability were observed. Although a larger study is needed to confirm these results, this is the first report of fDPSC isolation and in vitro characterization.