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World J Stomatol. Aug 20, 2013; 2(3): 35-39
Published online Aug 20, 2013. doi: 10.5321/wjs.v2.i3.35
Dental stem cells: Progress and perspectives
Sasha Dimitrova-Nakov, Yassine Harichane, Michel Goldberg, Odile Kellermann
Sasha Dimitrova-Nakov, Yassine Harichane, Michel Goldberg, Odile Kellermann, Inserm UMR-S 747, UFR Biomédicales des Saints-Pères, Université Paris Descartes, 75006 Paris, France
Author contributions: All authors substantial contributed to conception, design, acquisition of data, and interpretation of data, drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content, and final approval of the version to be published.
Correspondence to: Michel Goldberg, Professor, Inserm UMR-S 747, UFR Biomédicales des Saints-Pères, Université Paris Descartes, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75006 Paris, France. mgoldberg.goldberg004@gmail.com
Telephone: +33-1-42863851 Fax: +33-1-42864068
Received: December 13, 2012
Revised: March 28, 2013
Accepted: April 9, 2013
Published online: August 20, 2013
Abstract

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are thought to contribute to reparative dentin formation, and that they may correspond to heterogenous populations of precursor cells or represent distinct differentiation stages along the odontoblastic lineage. DPSCs share many similarities with mesenchymal stem cells of the bone marrow (BMSCs). It appears that the distribution of tissue stem cells is not random and, within the dental pulp, there are potentially several distinct niches of stem/progenitor cells. In addition to DPSCs, other dental stem cell populations have been isolated. As for DPSCs, further studies are still needed to evaluate their potential of differentiation and their regenerative activity. Up today, (1) the formal demonstration that pulpal resident stem cells are actually the reparative dentin-forming cells recruited in response to injury is still lacking; and (2) the origin, localization and precise identity of odontogenic stem cells remain largely unknown. Dental clonal cell lines may represent valuable tool to answer some fontamental questions concerning the dental stem cell biology. Altogether, the presence of dental cell populations displaying stem cell properties has opened new paths for considering regenerative therapies. This might be a prerequisite to design alternative strategies for capping and endodontic treatment, using stem cells.

Keywords: Dental pulp, Stem cells, Dentin repair, Niche

Core tip: The presence of cell populations displaying stem cell properties within the pulp has opened new paths for considering more conservative therapies. Still, dental stem cells research is still confronted with the lack of precise knowledge related to the location and identity of the cells participating to reparative dentin formation. Clonal cell lines derived from the dental sphere may represent valuable tool to answer some questions that are of fundamental importance to stem cell biology and clinical applications. This review discusses some fundamental concepts of dental stem cell biology within the context of regenerative dentistry.