Single CD271 marker isolates mesenchymal stem cells from human dental pulp

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising tool in regenerative medicine due to their capacity to differentiate into multiple lineages. In addition to MSCs isolated from bone marrow (BMSCs), adult MSCs are isolated from craniofacial tissues including dental pulp tissues (DPs) using various stem cell surface markers. However, there has been a lack of consensus on a set of surface makers that are reproducibly effective at isolating putative multipotent dental mesenchymal stem cells (DMSCs). In this study, we used different combinations of surface markers (CD51/CD140α, CD271, and STRO-1/CD146) to isolate homogeneous populations of DMSCs from heterogeneous dental pulp cells (DPCs) obtained from DP and compared their capacity to undergo multilineage differentiation. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting revealed that 27.3% of DPCs were CD51+/CD140α+, 10.6% were CD271+, and 0.3% were STRO-1+/CD146+. Under odontogenic conditions, all three subsets of isolated DMSCs exhibited differentiation capacity into odontogenic lineages. Among these isolated subsets of DMSCs, CD271+ DMSCs demonstrated the greatest odontogenic potential. While all three combinations of surface markers in this study successfully isolated DMSCs from DPCs, the single CD271 marker presents the most effective stem cell surface marker for identification of DMSCs with high odontogenic potential. Isolated CD271+ DMSCs could potentially be utilized for future clinical applications in dentistry and regenerative medicine. Adult stem cells in dental pulp can be isolated via a single surface protein and efficiently grow into various cell types. It has been a matter of debate how best to isolate these cells so that they retain the ability to develop into various specialized tissues. Cun-Yu Wang and Christine Hong from the UCLA School of Dentistry in Los Angeles used various combinations of antibodies against surface proteins to purify the stem cells but none led to a uniform stem cell population that efficiently grew into different cell types. However, the researchers found that a single surface protein was sufficient to isolate the stem cells, which could then be successfully grown into mature cells forming teeth or cartilage. This isolation protocol will be of interest for future application in dentistry.