ABSTRACT
Background: Stem cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous teeth (SHED) were identified by Miura in 2003. SHED have been described as a suitable, accessible and potential source for regenerative medicine and therapeutic applications. However, the best group of deciduous teeth for the obtention of stem cells (SCs) has not been established. Therefore, this research aimed to determine the dental organs group from which SHED can be obtained with higher potentiality, considering their biomolecular features. Methodology: Deciduous teeth from 64 healthy children were collected and divided into two groups: anterior and posteriors. Dental pulp tissue was removed to determine their genetic, phenotypic, and spectroscopic profiles by RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy respectively. Results: The results showed a higher gene (CD73 and NANOG) and protein (NANOG and SOX2) expression of mesenchymal and pluripotent markers in anterior SHED. CD146 gene expression between the two groups shows no statistical significant difference. Furthermore, the analysis of deciduous dental pulps by FTIR spectroscopy showed spectral bands related to biological samples, indicating the higher state of potentiality in anterior deciduous dental pulps. Conclusion: The deciduous dental pulp harbor a heterogenous population of SCs with different potentiality; however, the expression of multipotent and pluripotent markers was higher in the pulps from anterior deciduous teeth respect to posterior deciduous teeth. The storage and obtention of SHED from anterior teeth is more recommended respect to posterior teeth. However, it is necessary to analyze more stem cell markers and to study the differentiation capability of SHED.