The dental pulp, a non-mineralized connective tissue uniquely encased within the cavity of the tooth, provides a niche for diverse arrays of dental mesenchymal stem cells. Stem cells in the dental pulp, including dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) and stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs), have been isolated from human tissues with an emphasis on their potential application to regenerative therapies. Recent studies utilizing mouse genetic models shed light on the identities of these mesenchymal progenitor cells derived from neural crest cells (NCCs) in their native conditions, particularly regarding how they contribute to homeostasis and repair of the dental tissue. The current concept is that at least two distinct niches for stem cells exist in the dental pulp, e.g., the perivascular niche and the perineural niche. The precise identities of these stem cells and their niches are now beginning to be unraveled thanks to sophisticated mouse genetic models, which lead to better understanding of the fundamental properties of stem cells in the dental pulp and the apical papilla in humans. The new knowledge will be highly instrumental for developing more effective stem cell-based regenerative therapies to repair teeth in the future.
Keywords: Dental mesenchymal stem cells; Dental pulp; Dental pulp stem cell niche; Dental pulp stem cells; Mouse genetic models; Stem cell.