Background: Undifferentiated human dental cells and especially human dental follicle cells are interesting for potential dental treatments. These somatic stem cells are cultured usually in cell culture medium containing bovine serum. In the age of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a serum-free cell culture system for dental follicle cells are recommended, if these cells will be applied in dentistry.
Purpose: However, less is known about the cultivation of dental follicle cells in serum-replacement medium. In this study, we cultivated dental follicle cells in serum-free cell culture medium, which is normally applied for neuronal stem/progenitor cells.
Materials and methods: Dental follicle cells were cultivated in both serum-free and serum-containing cell culture media, and gene expression profiles were recorded for connective tissue markers collagen type I and type III and for the human dental follicle cell marker nestin.
Results: It is interesting to note that the gene expressions of collagens and nestin were similar after applying both cell culture conditions.
Conclusion: Although the gene expression of dental follicle cell markers was unchanged, a more appropriate serum-free cell culture medium is recommended for cell proliferation of dental follicle cells.