Adult mesenchymal stem cells and their possibilities for Dentistry: what to expect?

ABSTRACT Introduction: Stem cells obtained from the pulp of human deciduous teeth are highly proliferative and plastic multipotent cells, which makes them a relevant model of stem cells, applied in several biomedical areas, with different purposes. Objective: Based on a brief review of the literature, the present work intends to present from conceptual aspects about stem cells, classifications, potential (in vitro and in vivo) applications in dental practice, cell culture, cryopreservation and its importance, ethical and regulatory aspects, as well as the role of the dental surgeon as the endorser responsible for the entire clinical stage that involves the process of collecting stem cells obtained from dental pulps for cryopreservation, with a view to using them under appropriate conditions, in accordance with scientifically proven and justified good laboratory and clinical practices.

RESUMO Introdução: As células-tronco obtidas a partir da polpa de dentes decíduos humanos são células multipotentes altamente proliferativas e plásticas, o que as torna um modelo relevante de células-tronco, aplicado em diversas áreas biomédicas, com diferentes propósitos. Objetivo: A partir de uma breve revisão da literatura, o presente trabalho pretende apresentar desde aspectos conceituais acerca das células-tronco, classificações, potenciais aplicações (in vitro e in vivo) na prática odontológica, cultivo celular, criopreservação e sua importância, aspectos éticos e regulatórios, bem como o papel do cirurgião-dentista como homologador responsável por toda a etapa clínica que envolve o processo de coleta das células-tronco obtidas a partir de polpas dentais para criopreservação, com vistas ao uso em condições adequadas, em acordo com as boas práticas laboratoriais e clínicas cientificamente comprovadas e justificadas.

Aplicaciones odontológicas de las células madre pulpares de dientes temporales y permanentes: revisión de estudios in vivo / Dental applications of pulpal stem cells of temporary and permanent teeth: review of in vivo studies

La terapia con células madre ha atraído la atención médica como una alternativa al trasplante de órganos considerando las características que presentan estas células in vivo. En los últimos años la odontología ha despertado gran interés en el potencial terapéutico de las células madre obtenidas del tejido pulpar dental. La principal característica de estas células es su gran capacidad de proliferación, multidiferenciación, autorrenovación y la habilidad de diferenciarse en varios tipos de células como los odontoblastos, osteoblastos, adipocitos, condrocitos y células neurales. Acerca de las células multipotenciales existe una alta probabilidad en la regeneración de tejidos dentales así como la sustitución de materiales, los cuales son utilizados actualmente en odontología por materiales biológicos. Estudios y experimentos científi cos in vivo han demostrado la utilidad y viabilidad de las células madre pulpares para el tratamiento de lesiones bucales así como el potencial terapéutico y la regeneración de nuevos tejidos. En la revisión se incluyen estudios in vivo sobre la aplicación odontológica de las células madre pulpares de los órganos dentarios temporales y permanentes. También se muestra el potencial de regeneración tisular, benefi cios y aplicaciones clínicas con la fi nalidad de proporcionar información puntual a los lectores acerca de la seguridad y los alcances de la terapia con estas células enfocadas en la regeneración, reparación o reemplazo de tejidos y órganos de la cavidad oral (AU)

Stem cell therapy had attracted the medical attention as an alternative to organ transplantation, considering the characteristics these cells have in vivo. In recent years, dentistry has aroused great level of interest in the potential therapeutic of stem cells derived from dental pulp tissue. The main characteristic of dental pulp stem cells is the high capacity of proliferation, multidifferentiation, self-renewal and the ability to differentiate into other cell types such as odontoblasts, osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes and neural cells. In regard to multipotential cells there is a high probability about dental tissue regeneration as well as the material substitution, which are currently used in dentistry by biological materials. Therefore scientific studies and experiments in vivo have proved the usefulness and feasibility of pulp stem cells for treatment of buccal lesions, as well as therapeutic potential and tissue regeneration. In this review are included in vivo studies about the dental applications of stem cells from primary and permanent teeth. The potential tissue regeneration, benefi ts and clinical applications are shown, aimed to provide punctual and complete information to readers about the safety and therapeutic scope with dental pulp stem cells, focused on regeneration, replacement of tissues and organs of the oral cavity (AU)