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Updated: Jul 12, 2025

Isolation, Characterization and MicroRNA-based Genetic Modification of Human Dental Follicle Stem Cells
Published on: November 16, 2018
Roles of DNA methylation in influencing the functions of dental-derived mesenchymal stem cells
Liyan Shi1, Xingchen Ye1, Jing Zhou1
1State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Objective:
DNA methylation as intensively studied epigenetic regulatory mechanism exerts pleiotropic effects on dental-derived mesenchymal stem cells (DMSCs). DMSCs have self-renewal and multidifferentiation potential. Here, this review aims at summarizing the research status about application of DMSCs in tissue engineering and clarifying the roles of DNA methylation in influencing the functions of DMSCs, with expectation of paving the way for its in-depth exploration in tissue engineering.
Method:
The current research status about influence of DNA methylation in DMSCs was acquired by MEDLINE (through PubMed) and Web of Science using the keywords 'DNA methylation', 'dental-derived mesenchymal stem cells', 'dental pulp stem cells', 'periodontal ligament stem cells', 'dental follicle stem cells', 'stem cells from the apical papilla', 'stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth', and 'gingival-derived mesenchymal stem cells'.
Results:
This review indicates DNA methylation affects DMSCs' differentiation and function through inhibiting or enhancing the expression of specific gene resulted by DNA methylation-related genes or relevant inhibitors.
Conclusion:
DNA methylation can influence DMSCs in aspects of osteogenesis, adipogenesis, immunomodulatory function, and so on. Yet, the present studies about DNA methylation in DMSCs commonly focus on dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs). Little has been reported for other DMSCs.
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