Proteome of human stem cells from periodontal ligament and dental pulp

PLoS One. 2013 Aug 5;8(8):e71101. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071101. Print 2013.

Abstract

Background: Many adult tissues contain a population of stem cells with the ability to regenerate structures similar to the microenvironments from which they are derived in vivo and represent a promising therapy for the regeneration of complex tissues in the clinical disorder. Human adult stem cells (SCs) including bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs), dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) have been characterized for their high proliferative potential, expression of characteristic SC-associated markers and for the plasticity to differentiate in different lineage in vitro.

Methodology/principal findings: The aim of this study is to define the molecular features of stem cells from oral tissue by comparing the proteomic profiles obtained with 2-DE followed by MALDI-TOF/TOF of ex-vivo cultured human PDLSCs, DPSCs and BMSCs. Our results showed qualitative similarities in the proteome profiles among the SCs examined including some significant quantitative differences. To enrich the knowledge of oral SCs proteome we performed an analysis in narrow range pH 4-7 and 6-9, and we found that DPSCs vs PDLSCs express differentially regulated proteins that are potentially related to growth, regulation and genesis of neuronal cells, suggesting that SCs derived from oral tissue source populations may possess the potential ability of neuronal differentiation which is very consistent with their neural crest origin.

Conclusion/significance: This study identifies some differentially expressed proteins by using comparative analysis between DPSCs and PDLSCs and BMSCs and suggests that stem cells from oral tissue could have a different cell lineage potency compared to BMSCs.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Adult Stem Cells / chemistry*
  • Adult Stem Cells / cytology
  • Adult Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dental Pulp / cytology*
  • Dental Pulp / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Osteogenesis / physiology
  • Periodontal Ligament / cytology*
  • Periodontal Ligament / metabolism
  • Proteome / analysis*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Proteome

Grants and funding

This study was supported by University Chieti-Pescara Fund, (named ex 60%) assigned to Trubiani O. and Angelucci S. and by PRIN 20102ZLNJ5 (“Stem cells and 3D scaffolds: a novel construct in bone regeneration” financed by the Ministry of Education, University and Research (M.I.U.R.), Rome, Italy). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.