Functional differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells into neuron-like cells exhibiting electrophysiological activity.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aim

Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) constitute a promising alternative for central nervous system (CNS) cell therapy. Unlike other human stem cells, hDPSCs can be differentiated, without genetic modification, to neural cells that secrete neuroprotective factors. However, a better understanding of their real capacity to give rise to functional neurons and integrate into synaptic networks is still needed. For that, ex vivo differentiation protocols must be refined, especially to avoid the use of fetal animal serum. The aim of our study is to improve existing differentiation protocols of hDPSCs into neuron-like cells.

Methods

We compared the effects of the (1) absence or presence of fetal serum during the initial expansion phase as a step prior to switching

SUBMITTER: Pardo-Rodriguez B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11756023 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature