Methods: Cell cultures were isolated from Milk Tooth Pulp. Bone Marrow cells were kindly provided by Dr. H. Ishikawa, Nippon Dental University. Cells in the cultures were separated by Magnetic Activated Cell Separation (MACS. Miltenyi Biotec). Further cell cultures, enriched in CD 117 positive cells, were obtained. Expression of CD117, CD44H, Oct 3/4, alpha Feto-Protein and Serum Albumin were characterized in both cell lines by immunofluorescency and flow-cytometry and they were compared. Then the stem-cell-like characteristics of the two cell cultures were assessed.
Results: Both Mesenchymal cell lines were proven to be positive for Pluripotent cell markers CD117, CD44H, Oct ¾. Enriching the cell cultures with CD 117 positive cells lead to increase of the number of cells in the cultures, expressing the other two stem cell related markers. The cells did not express alpha Feto-Protein and Serum Albumin.
Conclusions:
The present results demonstrate the increase of the stem cell markers in both Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Cell and Milk Tooth Pulp Mesenchymal Cell cultures after Magnetic Activated Cell Separation of CD 117 positive cells. It shows that the levels of stem cell markers of Milk Tooth Pulp Mesenchymal Cell are higher than Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Cells and is a basis for further investigations pre-requisite to establishing differentiation protocols and assessing the two CD 117 positive cell lines differentiation abilities.