Human dental pulp stem cells for spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious neurological disorder that causes loss of mobility, pain, and autonomic dysfunction, resulting in altered sensation and devastating loss of function. Recent studies have highlighted that dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) may contribute to anti-inflammatory regulation, anti-apoptotic regulation, and axonal regeneration in the treatment of SCI patients. The advantages of dental pulp stem cells include ease of isolation, lack of ethical controversy, low immunogenicity, and low risk of graft rejection [15].

• 1
  DPSCs are involved in nerve repair in SCI through various pathways, such as anti-inflammatory effects, promotion of axonal regeneration, reduction of apoptosis, and immunomodulation.
• 2
  DPSCs can differentiate into CD13 pericytes, secrete bFGF, augment N-calmodulin expression, facilitate adhesion of CD13 pericytes to vascular endothelial cells, and foster vascular restoration and construction - thus enhancing the hypoxic microenvironment caused by SCI.
• 3
  The combination of DPSCs and biomaterials further amplifies the advantages of DPSCs-based treatment of SCI, provides an additional approach to SCI treatment, and can also be used for other diseases.