Recently, numerous types of human dental tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been isolated and characterized, including dental pulp stem cells, stem cells from exfoliated deciduous teeth, periodontal ligament stem cells, dental follicle progenitor cells, alveolar bone‐derived MSCs, stem cells from apical papilla, tooth germ progenitor cells, and gingival MSCs. All these MSC‐like cells exhibit self‐renewal, multilineage differentiation potential, and immunomodulatory properties. Several studies have demonstrated the potential advantages of dental stem cell‐based approaches for regenerative treatments and immunotherapies. This review outlines the properties of various dental MSC‐like populations and the progress toward their use in regenerative therapy. Several dental stem cell banks worldwide are also introduced, with a view toward future clinical application. Stem Cells 2015;33:627–638
Summary
Gene-editing technologies have made it feasible to create nonhuman
primate models for human genetic disorders. Here, we report detailed genotypes
and phenotypes of TALEN-edited MECP2 mutant cynomolgus monkeys
serving as a model for a neurodevelopmental disorder, Rett syndrome (RTT), which
is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the human MECP2
gene. Male mutant monkeys were embryonic lethal, reiterating that RTT is a
disease of females. Through a battery of behavioral analyses, including
primate-unique eye-tracking tests, in combination with brain imaging via MRI, we
found a series of physiological, behavioral, and structural abnormalities
resembling clinical manifestations of RTT. Moreover, blood transcriptome
profiling revealed that mutant monkeys resembled RTT patients in immune gene
dysregulation. Taken together, the stark similarity in phenotype and/or
endophenotype between monkeys and patients suggested that gene-edited RTT
founder monkeys would be of value for disease mechanistic studies as well as
development of potential therapeutic interventions for RTT.
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