Comparative odontogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells derived from different origins

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K21055
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Ohori Yumi 東北大学, 歯学研究科, 助教 (70908441)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 歯胚再生 / 間葉系幹細胞（MSC） / 神経堤 / 器官原基法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to establish a tooth regeneration method using adult stem cells. Our group developed a novel shaking culture method to fabricate bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) spheroids with neural crest stem cell phenotype (Neu-sph). Since dental mesenchyme is derived from the neural crest, we hypothesized that Neu-sph would enhance the odontogenic potential of BMSCs. They showed the presence of tooth structures when associated with dental epithelium. However, the regeneration efficiency was less than expected, indicating the need to optimize the culture method in the future study. We attempted to isolate neural crest-derived BMSCs from P0-cre/CAG-CAT-EGFP mice, which label neural crest cell lineages, and compare their odontogenic potential with conventional BMSCs. However, we failed to generate Neu-sph from these cells. Thus, we fabricated neural crest-derived Neu-sph by modifying the culture method, and will proceed with our experiments using these new spheroids.

Free Research Field

歯科再生医療

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

歯胚を形成する歯原性細胞は胎生期にのみ存在し，歯胚再生に利用することは倫理的に困難なため，成体幹細胞の応用が求められている．しかしながらBMSCを用いた歯胚再生は再生効率が低いことが課題となっていた．当研究グループが開発したMSCスフェアは，従来の培養法よりも神経堤様の性質が高い神経堤様MSCスフェアであることから，神経堤由来細胞である歯原性細胞としての能力が向上し，歯胚再生効率が向上するとの仮説を立てた．本研究では再生効率向上までは実現できなかったがMSCスフェアの歯胚再生能力を示したことにより，歯胚再生療法確立へ一歩前進した．