NEURONAL IMMUNOPHENOTYPIC PROFILE OF MESENCHYMAL STROMAL CELLS DECIDUOUS TOOTH-DERIVED AND PERMANENT PULP TOOTH-DERIVED

Background Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have the potential for self-renewal and differentiation in several tissues, characteristics that encourage their use in regenerative medicine. Dental tissues are easy to collect, have the same embryonic origin as a neuron, and the cells from this tissue express some of the neuro-progenitor markers stimulating their use in treating neurodegenerative diseases. The neuronal potential of stromal cells from exfoliated primary teeth (SHED) and permanent teeth (DPSC) is already known, also the possibility of these cells differentiated into neurons. However, it is still unclear which of these sources, SHED or DPSC, have an immunophenotypic profile similar to neuronal stem cells (NSC). This work aimed to compare the expression of neuronal markers in SHED and DPSC concerning the NSC profile. Methods The Local Research Ethics Committee approved this study (CAAE: 09537119.0.0000.0020). Three primary teeth were collected from children and three permanent teeth (third molar) from adults. SHED and DPSC were characterized immunophenotypically with the markers suggested by the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT). The neuronal immunophenotypic profile was performed with specific neuronal markers (BD Stemflow Human Neural Lineage Analysis Kit). Results The populations presented an immunophenotypic profile of MSC according to ISCT guidelines. There was no significant difference between the sources regarding the NSC expression markers SOX1, SOX2, GFAP, Nestin, CD44, and CD146. The DPSC showed a significant difference in the marker CD271 (protein capable of binding to neurotrophin) (p=0.0002) compared to NSC; this difference was not observed in SHED. When compared to NSC, SHED showed a significant difference in CD56 (expressed on the surface of neurons) (p=0.0011) and Ki-67 (cell proliferation marker) (p=0.0081). The expression of the Doublecortin marker (responsible for organization and stability of microtubules) was different in both sources, SHED (p=0.0001) and DPSC (p Conclusion The early expression of neuronal markers demonstrates the potential of SHED and DPSC to have an NSC profile; possibly, this is because these cells share the same embryonic germ, the ectoderm. The set of data obtained in this study related the potential of SHED and DPSC to express neuronal markers, stimulating the use of these cells for future treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.