Lab Invest. 2015 Sep 14. doi: 10.1038/labinvest.2015.108. [Epub ahead of print]

Odontogenic epithelial stem cells: hidden sources.

Padma Priya S^1,2, Higuchi A^3,4,5, Abu Fanas S², Pooi Ling M⁶, Kumari Neela V⁷, Sunil PM^8,9, Saraswathi TR¹⁰, Murugan K¹¹, Alarfaj AA⁴, Munusamy MA⁴,Kumar S^7,12.

Abstract

The ultimate goal of dental stem cell research is to construct a bioengineered tooth. Tooth formation occurs based on the well-organized reciprocal interaction of epithelial and mesenchymal cells. The dental mesenchymal stem cells are the best explored, but because the human odontogenic epithelium is lost after the completion of enamel formation, studies on these cells are scarce. The successful creation of a bioengineered tooth is achievable only when the odontogenic epithelium is reconstructed to produce a replica of natural enamel. This article discusses the untapped sources of odontogenic epithelial stem cells in humans, such as those present in the active dental lamina in postnatal life, in remnants of dental lamina (the gubernaculum cord), in the epithelial cell rests of Malassez, and in reduced enamel epithelium. The possible uses of these stem cells in regenerative medicine, not just for enamel formation, are discussed.