Cells from bone marrow that evolve into oral tissues and their clinical applications

Abstract

There are two major well-characterized populations of post-natal (adult) stem cells in bone marrow: hematopoietic stem cells which give rise to blood cells of all lineages, and mesenchymal stem cells which give rise to osteoblasts, adipocytes, and fibroblasts. For the past 50 years, strict rules were taught governing developmental biology. However, recently, numerous studies have emerged from researchers in different fields suggesting the unthinkable--that stem cells isolated from a variety of organs are capable of ignoring their cell lineage boundaries and exhibiting more plasticity in their fates. Plasticity is defined as the ability of post-natal (tissue-specific adult) stem cells to differentiate into mature and functional cells of the same or of a different germ layer of origin. There are reports that bone marrow stem cells can evolve into cells of all dermal lineages, such as hepatocytes, skeletal myocytes, cardiomyocytes, neural, endothelial, epithelial, and even endocrine cells. These findings promise significant therapeutic implications for regenerative medicine. This article will review recent reports of bone marrow cells that have the ability to evolve or differentiate into oral and craniofacial tissues, such as the periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, condyle, tooth, bone around dental and facial implants, and oral mucosa.

Noninvasive Molecular Screening for Oral Precancer in Fanconi Anemia Patients

“…Reported mechanisms that could explain the presence of donor DNA in nonhematopoietic tissues are stem cell plasticity, fusion of bone marrow-derived blood cells with recipient cells, horizontal DNA transfer from donor to recipient cells, and contamination with donor leukocytes (36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42). Although we cannot exclude other mechanisms, our data strongly indicate a very simple source: leukocyte contamination.…”

Three-Dimensional Spheroid Culture of Human Gingiva-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhances Mitigation of Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis

“…Of note, the regeneration of injured or damaged epitheliumlined organs requires the coordination of multiple types of cells, the epithelial, endothelial, mesenchymal, and immune cells [38]. Recent studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) participate in the regeneration and repair of a variety of diseased epithelial tissues, including injured epithelial layers in skin [39], airway [40], cornea [41], gastric and intestine [42,43], kidney [44], and oral cavity [45]. The mechanisms underlying MSC-mediated regeneration of injured epithelial tissues may involve not only the secretion of various factors with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, or proangiogenic functions, but also the transdifferentiation of MSCs into epithelial-like cells possibly through MET [44].…”

Title: Dental Pulp Stem Cells Scope in Dentistry; A Review

“…However, embryonic cells loose these properties as differentiation ensues and growth-promoting signals decline. Adult stem cells are not totipotent, and they can be further classified depending on their origin and differentiation potential 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 .…”