Mesenchymal stem cell-mediated functional tooth regeneration

Abstract

A method for reconstructing a functional tooth by using a carrier loaded with a plurality of mesenchymal stem cells including at least one of a stem cell derived from Apical Papilla (SCAP), Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells (PDLSC), and Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSC). The mesenchymal stem cell loaded carrier is planted into a site within a subject's oral cavity to form a bio-root upon which a crown may be affixed, The mesenchymal stem cells will develop new periodontal tissues to stabilize the bio-root. Methods disclosed herein are particularly beneficial for subjects lacking good bone structures for conventional crown treatments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A stem cell composition, comprising:
 a plurality of human apical papilla stem cells (SCAP);   wherein the SCAP are:
 isolated from root apical papilla of a tooth extracted from an adult human; 
   characterized by expression of STRO-1, CD146, CD166 and CD24-positive surface markers; and   
       capable of differentiating into odontoblastic or osteoblastic cells. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , further comprising human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC). 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 7  further comprising human dental pulp stem cells (DPSC). 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 7  further comprising PDLSC and DPSC. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the SCAP have higher telomerase activity than that of DPSC isolated from the same human tooth. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the SCAP have elevated tissue regeneration capacity than that of DPSC isolated from the same human tooth. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the CD24 surface marker for the SCAP has higher detectability than that for DPSC isolated from the same tooth. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the SCAP contain higher than 0.5% CD24-positive cells. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the SCAP contain higher than 7.5% CD24-positive cells. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the SCAP are isolated from an extracted human wisdom tooth. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the SCAP are autologous SCAP. 
     
     
         18 . A stem cell composition, comprising:
 two stem cell compositions, wherein the first stem cell composition comprises plurality of human apical papilla stem cells (SCAP), and the second stem cell composition comprises human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC);   wherein the SCAP are:   isolated from root apical papilla of a tooth extracted from an adult human;   characterized by expression of STRO-1, CD146, CD166 and CD24-positive surface markers; and   capable of differentiating into odontoblastic or osteoblastic cells.   
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the second stem cell composition further comprises a gelatin solution. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the SCAP have higher telomerase activity than that of DPSC isolated from the same human tooth. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the SCAP have elevated tissue regeneration capacity than that of DPSC isolated from the same human tooth. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the CD24 surface marker for the SCAP has higher detectability than that for DPSC isolated from the same tooth. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the SCAP contain higher than 0.5% CD24-positive cells. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the SCAP contain higher than 7.5% CD24-positive cells. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the SCAP are isolated from an extracted human wisdom tooth. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the SCAP are autologous SCAP.