Research Summary
Regenerative medicine: Isolating stem cells from teeth
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.