Stem cells isolated from human dental follicles have osteogenic potential.

Stem cells isolated from human dental follicles as a potential cell source for bone-tissue engineering were examined for correcting a critical bone defect. Impacted third molars were collected and single cell-derived cell populations were cultivated in growth medium. Single cell-derived cell lines were examined in terms of cell shape, gene expression patterns, differentiation capacity in vitro, and osteogenic potential in vivo. Three distinct cell populations were identified with different morphologies, patterns of gene expression, and differentiation capacity. All 3 cell populations promoted bone formation when transplanted into surgically created critical-size defects in immunodeficient rat calvaria, compared with control animals without cell transplantation, although one of these populations showed a weak capacity for osteogenetic differentiation in vitro. Human dental follicle can derive at least 3 unique cell populations in culture, all of which promote bone formation in vivo.