Project description:Osteo/odontogenic differentiation is a key process of human stem cells from apical papilla (SCAP) in tooth root development. Emerging evidence indicates microRNAs (miRNAs) play diverse roles in osteogenesis. However, their functions in osteo/odontogenic differentiation of SCAP remain to be elucidated. We used miRNA microarray to analysis differentially expressed miRNAs in order to investigate the role of miRNAs in SCAP osteo/odontogenic differentiation and underlying mechanism.
Project description:Traumatic spinal cord injury is an overwhelming condition that strongly and suddenly impacts the patient’s life and her/his entourage. There are currently no predictable treatments to repair the spinal cord, while many strategies are proposed and evaluated by researchers throughout the world. One of the most promising avenues is the transplantation of stem cells, although its therapeutic efficiency is limited by several factors, among which cell survival at the lesion site. In our previous study, we showed that the implantation of a human dental apical papilla, residence of stem cells of the apical papilla (SCAP), supported functional recovery in a rat model of spinal cord hemisection.
Project description:Low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is shown to promote osteogenic differentiation and antiinflammation of periodontal mesenchymal stromal cells. We found extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from LIPUS-induced stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs) also have stronger anti-inflammatory and osteogenic effects in vitro and in vivo. To obtain clues on whether microRNA (miR) of EVs contribute to stronger anti-inflammatory and osteogenic effects, we analyzed miR expression in EVs from control- and LIPUS-induced SCAPs by deep sequencing. RNA-sequencing suggests that the LIPUS-EVs induce stronger osteogenic differentiation and antiinflammation by using their cargos, including upregulated osteogenic miRNAs to activate the PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways, and upregulated anti-inflammatory miRNAs to inhibit the TNF-α signaling pathways.
Project description:Recently, a new strategy has been developed to directly reprogram one cell type towards targeted cell type by using different combinations of small molecule compounds. Here we attempted to induce stem cells from apical papilla (SCAP) into endothelial cells (ECs) by the same strategy. We developed a set of small molecules and growth factors that facilitates the conversion of SCAP into stable endothelial lineage. The SCAP-derived endothelial cells (SCAP-ECs) expressed some up-regulated endothelial specific genes and proteins, exhibited the ability to form functional tubular-like structures in vitro, and contributed to generate blood vessels in vivo. The aim of this study is to compare the ECs-related gene profile of SCAP, SCAP-derived ECs and HUVECs (primary ECs) and to explore whether SCAP-derived ECs showed enriched ECs gene expression.
Project description:Transcriptional Profliing of small molecules induced endothelial cells of stem cells from apical papilla (SCAP-ECs), stem cells from apical papilla (SCAP) and human vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)
Project description:The generation of cell-based three dimensional (3D) nerve tissue is an attractive subject to improve graft survival and integration into host tissue for neural tissue regeneration or to model biological events in stem cell differentiation. However, although 3D organotypic culture strategy has been well established for 3D nerve tissue formation of pluripotent stem cells to study underlying biology in nerve development, cell-based nerve tissue have not been developed using human postnatal stem cells with therapeutic potential of stem cell-based therapy. Here, we established culture strategy for the generation of in vitro cell-based 3D nerve tissue from postnatal stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs) of tooth, which is known to be originated from neural crest-derived ectomesenchyme. A stem cell population capable of differentiating into neural cell lineages was generated during the ex-vivo expansion of SCAPs in the presence of EGF and bFGF, and SCAPs differentiated into neural cells showing neural cell lineage-related molecular and gene expression profiles with morphological change under neural inductive culture condition. Moreover, we showed the first evidence that 3D cell-based nerve-like tissue with axon and myelin structure could be generated from SCAPs via 3D organotypic culture using an integrated bioprocess composing of polyethylene glycol (PEG) microwell-mediated cell spheroid formation and subsequent dynamic culture in a high aspect ratio vessel (HARV) bioreactor. In conclusion, our study propose that the culture strategy provide a novel approach to develop in vitro engineered nerve tissue using SCAPs and a foundation to study biological events in neural differentiation of postnatal stem cells.
Project description:Background Simvastatin modulates numerous stem cell functions, including stemness maintenance and differentiation. The present study aimed to explore the effect of simvastatin on the osteogenic differentiation of SCAPs in vitro. Methods Cells were isolated from apical papilla, and mesenchymal stem cell features were characterised. Cells were treated with various concentrations of simvastatin (100-1,000 nM). The mRNA expression profile of simvastatin-treated SCAPs was examined using RNA sequencing technique. The osteogenic differentiation abilities were assessed. Alkaline phosphatase activity was determined. The mineralisation was visualised using Alizarin Red S and Von Kossa staining. The osteogenic marker gene expression was determined using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results RNA sequencing data demonstrated that simvastatin upregulated genes enriched in those pathways involving osteogenic differentiation, including the TGF-beta signalling pathway, FoxO signalling pathway, and MAPK signalling pathway, while the downregulated genes were involved in pathways related to cell proliferation and apoptosis, for example, DNA replication, cell cycle, and p53 signalling pathway. Simvastatin promoted mineral deposition in a dose-dependent manner, corresponding with the upregulation of osteogenic marker genes namely OSX, DMP1, DSPP, and OCN. Pretreatment with TGF-beta receptor inhibitor, SB431542, resulted in a moderately attenuated effect on simvastatin-induced mineralisation and osteogenic marker gene expression. Conclusions Simvastatin enhances osteogenic differentiation in SCAPs, potentially via TGF-beta signalling, implicating its potential role as an adjunctive molecule in dental pulp healing and regeneration in vital pulp treatment approaches.