Differentiation of dental pulp stem cells into islet-like aggregates

The post-natal dental pulp tissue contains a population of multipotent mesenchymal progenitor cells known as dental pulp stromal/stem cells (dpscs),with high proliferative potential for self-renewal. in this investigation,we explored the potential of dpscs to differentiate into pancreatic cell lineage resembling islet-like cell aggregates (icas). we isolated,propagated,and characterized dpscs and demonstrated that these could be differentiated into adipogenic,chondrogenic,and osteogenic lineage upon exposure to an appropriate cocktail of differentiating agents. using a three-step protocol reported previously by our group,we succeeded in obtaining icas from dpscs. the identity of icas was confirmed as islets by dithiozone-positive staining,as well as by expression of c-peptide,pdx-1,pax4,pax6,ngn3,and isl-1. there were several-fold up-regulations of these transcription factors proportional to days of differentiation as compared with undifferentiated dpscs. day 10 icas released insulin and c-peptide in a glucose-dependent manner,exhibiting in vitro functionality. our results demonstrated for the first time that dpscs could be differentiated into pancreatic cell lineage and offer an unconventional and non-controversial source of human tissue that could be used for autologous stem cell therapy in diabetes. © 2011 international & american associations for dental research.