Human dental pulp cell-derived spheroids and traditional Chinese medicine for central nerve system regeneration

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26861689
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Dental engineering/Regenerative dentistry
• Research Institution: The Nippon Dental University
• Principal Investigator: Xiao Li 日本歯科大学, 生命歯学部, 講師 (80548256)
• Research Collaborator: Miwa Nobuhiko 県立広島大学, 生命環境学部, 名誉教授 (00142141)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 歯髄細胞 / 中枢神経再生 / スフェロイド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Mammalian adult central nerve system (CNS) injuries are devastating because of the intrinsic difficulties for effective neuronal regeneration. The greatest problem to be overcome for CNS recovery is the poor regeneration of neuronal cells. Because of the harsh micro-environment, it is very difficult to regenerate the damaged neuronal cells, especially neurons. In this study, we made spheroids from human dental pulp-derived cells. The spheroids were able to survive under very harsh environment, such as shortage of oxygen and nutrition. When they were cultivated in neuronal inductive medium, they could be differentiated into neuronal cells. Patch clamp technique indicated that cells derived from the spheroids exhibited the capacity to produce a tetrodotoxin-sensitive (membrane) depolarization suggesting they have potential to be differentiated into functional neurons. The spheroids also improved neuronal cells regeneration in co-cultivated mouse hippocampus slices in vitro.

Free Research Field

再生歯学