Neurogenic Potential of Human Dental Stem Cells

Authors

  • Karlen Gazarian Department of Genomic Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico City, Mexico Author
  • Sindy Laura Mendoza Olvera Laboratory of Cell Reprogramming, Department of Medicinal Genomics, Institute of Biomedical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico City, Mexico Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47363/JDSR/2023(5)162

Keywords:

Dental Cells, Neural Crest, Neurons, Neural Systems, Tauopathy , Tau Protein

Abstract

Presently, both central and peripheral nervous system medicine is limited in the sources of stem/progenitor cells for regeneration/repair of damaged neurons. Classical animal studies have shown that dental soft tissue cells are derived from the ectoderm - neuroepithelium - neural crest - (ecto) mesenchymal craniofacial lineages, hence possessing a dormant neural identity. No such data was possible to obtain for humans until recent times. Here we review recent independent discoveries showing that adult dental pulp cells can express, under appropriate culture conditions, genes that (a) determine neural crest identity and (b) synthesize tau protein, conferring jointly on mesenchymal dental cell precursors a neuronal fate that has rarely been observed as their propensity to transformation into neurons; this potential could become a major source of new neurons for regenerative
medicine in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. 

Author Biographies

  • Karlen Gazarian, Department of Genomic Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico City, Mexico

    Karlen Gazarian, Department of Genomic Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico City, Mexico.

  • Sindy Laura Mendoza Olvera, Laboratory of Cell Reprogramming, Department of Medicinal Genomics, Institute of Biomedical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico City, Mexico

    Laboratory of Cell Reprogramming, Department of Medicinal Genomics, Institute of Biomedical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico City, Mexico.

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Published

2025-12-02

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 4 (2023): Volume 5 Issue 4

Section

Articles