Landscape of Differentiation Potentials as a "Hallmark" in Oral-derived MSCs

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Stem Cell Biology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising for regenerative medicine.
• MSCs from different tissues have distinct phenotypes and functions.
• Molecular characterization is needed to understand oral-derived MSCs' identities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To molecularly characterize oral-derived MSCs.
• To define the differentiation potential of MSCs from alveolar bone (aBMSCs), dental pulp (DPSCs), and gingiva (GMSCs).
• To discern the true molecular identities of oral MSCs.

Main Methods:

• Isolated and cultured aBMSCs, DPSCs, and GMSCs.
• Characterized stemness via flow cytometry and multi-differentiation potential.
• Performed RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and analyze pathways.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in DEGs were observed across oral MSC populations.
• Specific genes (e.g., RUNX2, BMP4, AXL) were upregulated or downregulated in each MSC type.
• aBMSCs and DPSCs showed positive osteoblast differentiation, while GMSCs showed negative regulation; DPSCs also showed negative angiogenesis regulation.

Conclusions:

• Oral-derived MSCs possess inherent differentiation landscapes based on tissue origin.
• This differentiation potential can be influenced by the microenvironment.
• Molecular insights aid in understanding MSC heterogeneity for therapeutic applications.