Epithelial cell rests of Malassez contain unique stem cell populations capable of undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

ABSTRACT: The epithelial cell rests of Malassez (ERM) are odontogenic epithelial cells located within the periodontal ligament matrix. While their function is unknown, they may support tissue homeostasis and maintain periodontal ligament space or even contribute to periodontal regeneration. We investigated the notion that ERM contain a subpopulation of stem cells that could undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition and differentiate into mesenchymal stem-like cells with multilineage potential. For this purpose, ERM collected from ovine incisors were subjected to different inductive conditions in vitro, previously developed for the characterization of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (BMSC). We found that ex vivo-expanded ERM expressed both epithelial (cytokeratin-8, E-cadherin, and epithel

SUBMITTER: Xiong J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3396154 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature