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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Isolation, Processing and Analysis of Murine Gingival Cells
Published on: July 2, 2013
LepR-Expressing Cells in Bone and Periodontium
Yue Li1, Peitong Li1, Kun Xue1
1State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Periodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Objective:
LepR-expressing cells (LepR+ cells), a critical subpopulation of mesenchymal stem cells, have gained increasing attention in the last decade. LepR+ cells have been found to play a crucial role in maintaining bone and periodontal homeostasis. This review summarizes current research advances focusing on the role of LepR+ cells and their underlying regulatory molecular mechanisms in bones and periodontium, aiming to provide a better understanding of the therapeutic potential of this cell lineage.
Methods:
A literature review was conducted based on publications in PubMed over the past 20 years, summarizing the research progress on LepR+ cells in bone and periodontal tissues.
Results:
Current evidence revealed that LepR+ cells possess the ability of self-renewal and multilineage differentiation and are essential for bone turnover and periodontal tissue remodeling. In addition, LepR+ cells participate in the processes of bone fracture healing and alveolar socket healing. Moreover, under pathological conditions such as osteoporosis, bone marrow fibrosis, and periodontitis, LepR+ cells exhibit enhanced adipogenic or fibrogenic differentiation abilities.
Conclusion:
Therapeutic approaches targeting the cell fate of LepR+ cells hold the potential to provide novel insights into bone/periodontal repair and regeneration therapy.
