Objective: To explore the possibility of involving dental follicle cells (DFCs) and adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) into the construction of bioengineered periodontal tissue.
Methods: dentin non-collagenous proteins (dNCPs) and apical tooth germ conditioned medium (ATGC-CM) were mixed to induce rat DFCs, then the induced cells were combined with dentin block, encapsuled by PLGA membrane, and then transplanted in subrenal capsule of adult rats; Rat ADSCs were isolated, cultured and identified; dNCPs and ATGC-CM were mixed to induce rat ADSCs, and three constructing protocols were used as follows: induced ADSCs were mixed with CBB; induced ADSCs were combined with dentin block and encapsuled by PLGA membrane; induced ADSCs were combined with dentin block within demineralized bone tube. And the constructs were transplanted into subrenal capsule of adult rats.
Results: After induction, the treated DFCs formed cementum-like tissues along dentin surface, and fibers inserted into the tissue perpendicularly, which displayed cementum/PDL-like structure; The rat ADSCs had the characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells; The induced ADSCs could generate cementum/PDL-like structure along CBB and dentin surface, the structure formed in dentin group was more typical, and bone-like tissues could be produced along the demineralized bone surface.
Conclusions: DFCs can be utilized to bioengineer cementum/PDL-like structure after certain induction; The ectopic model for periodontal tissue engineering is feasible; ADSCs belong to mesenchymal stem cells which possess capability of multipotent differentiation; ADSCs can produce cementum/PDL-like structure in the ectopic models after appropriate induction, and will be a kind of important seed cells for periodontal regeneration.