Stem cells from dental pulp stem cells display a similar profile with pericytes

Objectives: In this study, we chose angiogenesis capacity and mesenchymal potentiality as evaluation standards to compare the similarity among stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs), postnatal human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), and pericytes.
Methods: The osteogenic and adipogenic induction assay was performed to evaluate the mesenchymal potentiality of SHEDs, DPSCs, and pericytes. In vitro Matrigel angiogenesis assay were performed to evaluate the ability of SHED, DPSC, and pericytes in stabilizing vascular-like structures.
Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to evaluate mRNA expression, flow cytometry, western blot, and immunostaining were used to evaluate protein expression. Wound healing and transwell assay were performed to evaluate the migration ability of SHEDs, DPSCs, and pericytes.
Results: The osteogenic and adipogenic induction assay showed that SHEDs, DPSCs, and pericytes exhibited stem cell characteristics, mineralization and lipid droplets were verified after induction in induction media.
RT-qPCR results showed that PDGF- β, a-SMA, NG2, and DEMSIN mRNA expression levels in SHEDs and DPSCs cultured with EC medium were significantly higher than control groups on day 7 (p < 0.05).
Western results showed that PDGF- β, α-SMA, NG2, and DEMSIN protein expression levels in SHEDs and DPSCs cultured with EC medium were significantly higher than control groups on day 14 (p < 0.05).
Flow cytometry showed that high proportions of SHEDs and DPSCs were positively expressing the various pericyte markers on day 7 (DESMIN (+83.7%, + 58.4%), PDGF-β (+ 79.3%, 80.6%) and α-SMA (+93.3%, +92.4%) respectively).
DPSCs, SHEDs, and pericytes displayed strong migration ability in wound healing and transwell assay, however, there were no significant differences between each group (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: SHEDs and DPSCs display a similar profile with pericytes. Our study lays a solid theoretical foundation for the use of dental pulp stem cells as a potential candidate to replace pericytes.