Proliferation and multilineage potential of CXCR4-positive human dental pulp cells in vitro

Abstract

Introduction: Although the results of our previous studies showed that the stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1α-CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) axis may play a role in the recruitment of CXCR4-positive dental pulp cells (CXCR4(+) DPCs) toward the damaged sites, the specific function of CXCR4(+) DPCs in the injured dental pulp was still unknown. The purpose of this study was to verify whether CXCR4(+) DPCs possessed stem cells properties so that we can understand their role in area of injury.

Methods: CXCR4(+) DPCs were isolated from normal DPCs with magnetic-activated cell sorting. The characteristics of the cells from the 3 groups of cells (ie, CXCR4(+) DPCs, CXCR4(-) DPCs, or nonsorted DPCs) were analyzed in colony formation, proliferation, and multilineage differentiation including odontogenic and adipogenic lineages.

Results: The results showed that CXCR4(+) DPCs were the most dominant population in colony formation, proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium content, and adipogenic differentiation among the 3 groups.

Conclusions: CXCR4(+) DPCs may contain more stem cells than nonsorted DPCs.