Effects of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ-1) and dentin non-collagenous proteins (DNCP) on human embryonic ectomesenchymal cells in a three-dimensional culture system

Cranial neural crest-derived ectomesenchymal cells represent a population of pluripotent stem cells giving rise to many of the various oro-facial and dental tissues. The factors determining the terminal fate of these cells are still unclear. The potentiality of human embryonic ectomesenchymal cells from the first branchial arch have been investigated when isolated and grown in a three-dimensional (3D)-collagen get culture system in the presence of dentin matrix-derived non-collagenous proteins (DNCP) and TGF beta-1. Functional differentiation of cells showing some characteristics of odontobtast- like cells could be observed when the cells were cultured with DNCP+TGF beta-1 or DNCP, however, only cytological differentiation was observed during culture with TGF beta-1 alone. The characteristics of these cells was assessed by morphological appearance, expression of the odontoblast phenotype marker dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP), increased alkaline phosphatase levels and formation of mineralised nodules in vitro. The results indicate that these embryonic cells from the first branchial arch are capable of responding to the inductive stimulus of DNCP or DNCP + TGF beta-1 when isolated and grown in the 3D cotlagen get culture system. The capacity of the isolated cells to differentiate into mineralising cells showing some characteristics of odontoblast- like cells under these growth conditions highlights the potential of such approaches for tissue engineering strategies for hard-tissue regeneration after injury. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.