Distribution of Neural and Neural-Crest-Related Antigens in Human Dental Pulp by Immunohistochemistry

Abstract

Human teeth (formalin-fixed, demineralized and paraffin-embedded as well as frozen sections of human dental pulp) were examined by immunohistochemistry to detect the presence and distribution of a series of neural and neural-crest-associated antigens: S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofilaments (NF). Although several experimental pieces of evidence support a neural crest derivation for dental papilla and odontoblasts with the histological method used in the present study, these structures were immunonegative for most of the markers employed in the present investigation. Indeed, mesenchymal cells as fibroblasts and endothelial cells were devoid of immunostaining. Schwann cells were strongly immunostained by S-100, NSE and GFAP. Nerve fibres running in the pulp showed a positive labelling for NF, S-100 and MBP antisera. It is concluded that the lack of labelling of pulp cells (excepting nerves) by the neural and neural-crest-associated antibodies could be due to a loss of capacity to express these antigens during differentiation. However, the possibility that these antigenic determinants are expressed but outside the limits of sensitivity of immunohistochemistry cannot be ruled out. Further studies, including molecular biology techniques, are required to clarify these alternatives.

Electrophysiologic and Functional Evaluations of Regenerated Facial Nerve Defects with a Tube Containing Dental Pulp Cells in Rats

“…Dental pulp, derived from neural crest, contains Schwann and stem cells. [13][14][15][16]24 Dental pulp stem cells express cell-surface markers, including adhesion molecules CD29, CD59, CD90, and CD106, similar to those of bone marrowderived mesenchymal stem cells by flow cytometric analysis, and dental pulp stem cells generate significantly more colonies and have a significantly stronger clonogenic potential than bone marrowderived mesenchymal stem cells. 25 Some subfractions of human dental pulp stem cells have a high angiogenic and neurogenic potential.…”

“…[13][14][15][16] Previously, the authors reported that tubulation with dental pulp cells is found to promote facial nerve regeneration by histologic analysis in rats. 17,18 However, for confirming the physiologic functions of regenerated facial nerve, electrophysiologic and functional evaluations of the nerve were never performed.…”

PLGA artificial nerve conduits with dental pulp cells promote facial nerve regeneration

“…Therefore, we focused on the use of dental pulp as a new host-derived source of cells to construct the artificial support conditions required for nerve regeneration. Dental pulp, derived from the neural crest, contains Schwann cells, endothelial cells and stem cells (Lombardi et al, 1993;Gronthos et al, 2000;Miura et al, 2003;Nanci, 2003). The third molar is an easily accessible source of dental pulp.…”

“…We focused on the use of dental pulp as a new source of cells because dental pulp contains both Schwann cells and stem cells (Lombardi et al, 1993;Gronthos et al, 2000;Miura et al, 2003;. Previously, we showed that silicone tubes filled with dental pulp cells (DPCs) promoted facial nerve regeneration in rats .…”

Neuroendocrine cells in the dental pulp in health and disease

“…lase (NSE), chromogranin A, S-100 protein, synaptophysin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and neurofilaments) only in nerve fibers [5,7]. Negative staining of the pulp cells with neuroendocrine markers can be explained by investigation of just one stage of cell differentiation during the development of the pulp tissue.…”