Characterization And Neural Differentiation In Vitro Of Stem Cells From Human Deciduous Tooth Pulp

Researchers isolated multipotent stem cells from human dental pulp tissue, which were of mesenchymal origin and potentially derived from the neural crest. These cells could differentiate into mesodermal cell types like chondrocytes, osteocytes, and adipocytes. When treated with retinoic acid, they exhibited neural cell-like morphology, expressed neural markers, and fired action potentials. However, undifferentiated cells also showed similar responses, complicating the interpretation of neural differentiation and limiting the use of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) as a model for neural differentiation in vitro. The study left unresolved whether DPSCs could truly become neurons.