Hydrogen sulphide increases hepatic differentiation of human tooth pulp stem cells compared with human bone marrow stem cells

AimTo determine the differences in stem cell properties, in hepatic differentiation and in the effects of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) on hepatic differentiation between human bone marrow stem cells (hBMC) and stem cells from human exfoliated primary tooth pulp (SHED). MethodologyCD117(+) cells were magnetically separated and subjected to hepatic differentiation. CD117(+) cell lineages were characterized for transcription factors indicative of stem cells by qRT-PCR. For the last 9days of the differentiation, the test cells were exposed to 0.1ngmL(-1) H2S. Immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry of albumin, alpha-fetoprotein and carbamoyl phosphate synthetase were carried out after differentiation. Urea concentration and glycogen synthesis were also determined. ResultsGenes expressed in SHED were also expressed in BMC. No difference in expression level of hepatic markers was shown by immunofluorescence. SHED showed more positive cells than hBMC (P<0.01). H2S increased the number of positive cells in both cultures (P<0.01). Urea concentration and glycogen synthesis increased significantly after H2S exposure (P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively). Real-time PCR data were analysed by RT2 profiler RT-PCR Array Data Analysis version 3.5 (Qiagen), and ELISA data were analysed by Bonferroni's multiple comparison using Windows spss version 16 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Bonferroni's multiple comparison test was also carried out after angle transformation for the percentage data of flow cytometer using Windows spss((R)) version 16 (SPSS Inc). Statistical significance was accepted at P<0.05. ConclusionsStem cells from human exfoliated primary tooth pulp and BMC have similar properties. The level of hepatic differentiation in SHED compared with BMC was the same or higher. H2S increased the level ofhepaticdifferentiation.