Osteogenic Potential of Human Dental Follicle Cells on Rat Calvaria

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the osteogenic potential of human dental follicle cells (hDFC) in vivo. hDFC were isolated from dental follicle tissue by enzymatic digestion and cultured in growth medium (GM). hDFC were grown in a three-dimensional (3D) culture using gelatin sponges in osteogenic induction medium (OIM) or GM. The cells were transplanted onto calvaria bone of immunodeficient rats (n = 3). Hematoxylin and eosin (H-E) staining and immunohistochemistry were performed, and bone formation was analyzed with micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). H-E staining showed newly formed bone after transplantation of hDFC grown in a 3D culture in OIM. Immunohistochemistry showed BMP-2, Runx2, and Osterix expression in the hDFC transplantation site during the early stage of bone formation. Moreover, micro-CT showed that the transplanted hDFC that were 3D-cultured in OIM promoted good bone quality and bone volume compared to the other two groups. Thus, human dental follicles may be a potentially useful cell source for regenerative therapy.