Challenging basic research for exploring the usefulness and limitations of stem cells from oral tissue: the establishment of regenerative medicine that are suitable for each stem cells

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25861912
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Surgical dentistry
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
• Principal Investigator: ABE Shigehiro 東京医科歯科大学, 歯学部, その他 (00510364)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 口腔粘膜 / 神経堤幹細胞 / 骨再生 / 組織工学 / neurosphere法 / 細胞分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Complex isolation methods are not suitable for the clinical application of stem cells. The neurosphere culture technique is a convenient method for isolation of stem cells. However, isolation and characterization of human oral mucosa stromal cells (OMSCs) using this culture system has yet to be understood. Human OMSCs were isolated from human oral mucosa, and these cells formed spheres in neurosphere culture conditions. Oral mucosa sphere-forming cells (OMSFCs) were characterized by biological analyses of stem cells. OMSFCs had the capacity for self-renewal and expressed neural crest-related markers. Furthermore, upregulated expression of neural crest-related genes was observed in OMSFCs. Finally, OMSFCs were capable of differentiating into neural crest lineages in vitro, and generating ectopic bone tissues. The results of this study suggest that OMSFCs are an effective source of cells for the neural crest lineage and hard tissue regeneration.

Free Research Field

外科系歯学