Discovering the Potential of Dental Pulp Stem Cells for Corneal Endothelial Cell Production: A Proof of Concept

• DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.617724
• Publication Date: 2021-01-28T06:04:07Z
• Authors: Begoña M. Bosch; Enrique Salero; Raquel Núñez-Toldrà; Alfonso L. Sabater; F. J. Gil; Roman A. Perez
• Keywords: Neurosphere; Amniotic stem cells; Induced stem cells; Stem cell marker; Nestin

Failure of corneal endothelium cell monolayer is the main cause leading to transplantation. Autologous cell-based therapies are required reconstruct in vitro monolayer. Several strategies have been proposed using embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent cells, although their use has ethical issues as well limited clinical applications. For this purpose, we propose dental pulp isolated from third molars form We hypothesize that share an embryological origin with endothelial they both arise neural crest, may allow a direct differentiation process avoiding reprogramming techniques, such cells. In work, report two-step protocol, where derived into crest stem-like and, then, endothelial-like Initially, for first-step used adhesion culture compared two initial sources: formation Results showed significantly higher levels early stage marker AP2 order provide better environment generation, performed suspension method, which neurospheres. neurosphere obtained peak markers expression after 4 days, showing overexpression AP2, Nestin, p75 markers, confirming Furthermore, Oct4, Nanog, Sox2 were well-upregulated culture. Neurospheres then directly cultured conditioned medium second conversion polygonal-like expressing ZO-1, ATP1A1, COL4A2, COL8A2 providing proof Therefore, our findings demonstrate patient-derived represent autologous source avoids actual transplantation limitations techniques.