Transdifferentiation of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells Into Oligoprogenitor Cells

The nerve fibers in central nervous system are surrounded by myelin sheet which is formed by oligodendrocytes. Cell therapy based on oligodendrocytes and their precursors transplantation can hold a promising alternative treatment for myelin sheet repair in demyelinating diseases. Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (hDPSCs) are noninvasive, autologous and easy available source with multipotency characteristics, so they are in focus of interest in regenerative medicine. In the present study, hDPSCs were differentiated into oligoprogenitor using glial induction media, containing Retinoic Acid (RA), basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF), Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF), N2 and B27. The differentiated Oligoprogenitor Cells (OPCs) were evaluated for and using immunocytochemistry. Also, the expression of nestin, and gens (neuroprogenitor and oligoprogenitor markers) were investigated via RT-PCR technique. The results indicate that glial differentiation medium induces the generation of oligoprogenitor cells as revealed via exhibition of specific glial markers, including , NG2 and O4. The expersion of nestin gene (neuroprogenitor marker) and and PDGFR-α genes (oligoprogentor markers) were detected in treated hDPSCs at the end of the induction stage. hDPSCs can be induced to transdifferentiate into oligoprogenitor cells and respond to the routinely applied regents for glial differentiation of mesanchymal stem cells. These data suggest the hDPSCs as a valuable source for cell therapy in neurodegenerative diseases.