2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (1): 91-98

Neural differentiation and neural biomarker expression of dental pulp stem cells

Xi Hualei, Xue Bing, Xu Wanqiu, Xu Xiaohang, Yao Lihong, Wang Xiumei   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Dental pulp stem cells have a potential therapeutic value for nervous system diseases due to their wide source, low immunogenicity and excellent ability to differentiate into nervous system cells.  
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the neurogenic markers of dental pulp stem cells, and provide a research basis for their application in the treatment of clinical nervous system diseases by reviewing the previous studies on the differentiation of dental pulp stem cells into cells of the nervous system.
METHODS: Using “dental pulp stem cells, neuro-differentiation, nerve cell markers, nerve” as the Chinese search terms and “dental pulp stem cells, neuro-differentiation, nerve biomarker, nerve” as the English search terms, the computer was used to retrieve articles published on CNKI, Wanfang Data and PubMed databases. According to the inclusion criteria, 85 articles were finally selected for review.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Several commonly used neural markers expressed during the differentiation of dental pulp stem cells into neural cells mainly include: nestin, SRY-related HMGbox-containing transcription factor-2, β III tubulin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, microtubule-associated protein 2, S100B, neuron specific enolase, and neuron specific nuclear protein. This article summarizes the characteristics of the above markers, the period of expression and the application of dental pulp stem cells to neural differentiation. (2) Current research shows that to judge whether the differentiation of dental pulp stem cells into neural cells is successful, it is necessary to combine the morphological characteristics and the function of differentiated cells for comprehensive judgment. At the same time, it is difficult to use a single marker to specifically identify a single cell lineage. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze more markers applied to the analysis of one cell type. (3) From the aspects of growth factors, signal pathways, and biological brackets, the method of differentiation of pulp stem cells to neuronal cells is introduced to provide theoretical reference in inducing dental pulp stem cells to neural differentiation.
Key words: dental pulp stem cell, neural cell, neural differentiation, neural markers, nestin, growth factor, biological properties, review