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Updated: Jun 28, 2025

Isolation of Epithelial Cells from Human Dental Follicle
Published on: November 5, 2021
[Theory and practice of mesenchymal condensation directing tooth development and regeneration]
1Department of Center for Tissue Engineering, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shaanxi International Joint Research Center for Oral Diseases, Xi'an 710032, China.
Abstract:
Mesenchymal stem cells, under spatiotemporal regulation of genes and microenvironment, are capable of spontaneously aggregating into dense regions, a phenomenon known as mesenchymal condensation. Mesenchymal condensation is an evolutionarily conserved developmental event that is critical in initiating morphogenesis of teeth and systemic organs. Mesenchymal stem cells hold the intrinsic ability to self-assemble in culture, and the generation of stem cell aggregates based on this property that mimics developmental mesenchymal condensation has become a potent and promising approach in regenerative medicine. This review discusses the mesenchymal condensation principles and its role as well as mechanism in tooth morphogenesis, as well as the engineering strategies for constructing mesenchymal stem cell aggregates and their application experience in tooth regeneration. It aims to start from the perspective of "development-inspired regeneration" and provide insights into understanding stem cell developmental biology and establishing new organ regenerative strategies.
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