Comparison of periodontal ligament and gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells for regenerative therapies

Abstract

Objectives: Tissue-engineering therapies using undifferentiated mesenchymal cells (MSCs) from intraoral origin have been tested in experimental animals. This experimental study aimed to compare the in vitro regenerative potential of undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells from either periodontal ligament or gingival origin.

Materials and Methods: Gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) were obtained from deepithelialized gingival biopsies, enzymatically digested and expanded in conditions of exponential growth. Their growth characteristics, phenotype and differentiation ability were compared with those of periodontal ligament-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PDLMSCs).

Results: Both periodontal ligament- and gingiva-derived cells displayed a MSC-like phenotype and were able to differentiate into osteocytes, chondrocytes and adipocytes. These cells where genetically stable following in vitro expansion, and did not generate tumors when implanted in immunocompromised mice.Furthermore, under suboptimal growth conditions, GMSCs proliferated with higher rates than PDLMSCs.

Conclusions: Stem cells derived from gingival biopsies represent bona-fide MSCs and have demonstrated genetic stability and lack of tumorigenicity.

Clinical Relevance: Gingiva-derived MSCs may represent an accessible source of messenchymal stem cells to be used in future periodontal regenerative therapies.