BackgroundTeeth and supporting oral tissues are attractive and accessible sources of stem cells. Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC) are readily isolated from extracted third molars, and exhibit the ability to self‐renew and differentiate into multiple mesodermal cell fates. Clinical experience suggests that the exact location of periodontal defects affects the oral bone remodeling and wound healing. Compared to the mandible, the maxilla heals quicker and more efficiently. Angiogenesis is key in tissue regeneration including dental tissues, yet few studies focus on the angiogenic potential of PDLSC, none of which considered the differences between upper and lower jaw PDLSC (u‐PDLSC and l‐PDLSC, respectively).MethodsHere we studied the angiogenic potential of u‐PDLSC and l‐PDLSC and compared the results to well‐established mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Cells were characterized in terms of surface markers, proliferation, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion, and angiogenic assays were performed. Newly formed capillaries were stained with CD31, and their expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM‐1), angiopoietin 2 (ANGPT2), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 and 2 (VEGFR‐1, VEGFR‐2) were measured.ResultsPeriodontal stem cells from the upper jaw showed a higher proliferation capacity, secreted more VEGF, and formed capillary networks faster and denser than l‐PDLSC. Gene expression of angiogenesis‐related genes was significantly higher in u‐PDLSC than in l‐PDLSC or MSC, given that culture conditions were suitable.ConclusionThe oral cavity is a valuable source of stem cells, particularly PDLSC, which are promising for oral tissue engineering due to their robust growth, lifelong accessibility, low immunogenicity, and strong differentiation potential. Notably, u‐PDLSC exhibit higher VEGF secretion and accelerate capillary formation compared to l‐PDLSC or MSC. This study suggests a potential molecular mechanism in capillary formation, emphasizing the significance of precise location isolation of PDLSC.

中文翻译：

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上颌和下颌牙周干细胞的血管生成潜力：一项初步研究

背景牙齿和口腔支持组织是有吸引力且易于获取的干细胞来源。牙周膜干细胞（PDLSC）很容易从拔出的第三磨牙中分离出来，并表现出自我更新和分化成多种中胚层细胞命运的能力。临床经验表明，牙周缺损的确切位置影响口腔骨重塑和伤口愈合。与下颌骨相比，上颌骨愈合更快、更有效。血管生成是包括牙组织在内的组织再生的关键，但很少有研究关注 PDLSC 的血管生成潜力，没有一项研究考虑上颌和下颌 PDLSC（分别为 u-PDLSC 和 l-PDLSC）之间的差异。 u-PDLSC 和 l-PDLSC 的潜力，并将结果与​​成熟的间充质干细胞 (MSC) 进行比较。对细胞的表面标记、增殖和血管内皮生长因子 (VEGF) 分泌进行表征，并进行血管生成测定。用CD31对新形成的毛细血管进行染色，并测量其血小板内皮细胞粘附分子（PECAM-1）、血管生成素2（ANGPT2）以及血管内皮生长因子受体1和2（VEGFR-1、VEGFR-2）的表达。结果来自上颌的牙周干细胞比l-PDLSC表现出更高的增殖能力，分泌更多的VEGF，并且形成更快、更致密的毛细血管网络。在培养条件合适的情况下，u-PDLSC中血管生成相关基因的表达显着高于l-PDLSC或MSC。结论口腔是干细胞尤其是PDLSC的宝贵来源，在口腔组织工程中具有广阔的前景由于其强劲的生长、终生可及性、低免疫原性和强大的分化潜力。值得注意的是，与 l-PDLSC 或 MSC 相比，u-PDLSC 表现出更高的 VEGF 分泌并加速毛细血管形成。这项研究提出了毛细血管形成的潜在分子机制，强调了 PDLSC 精确定位分离的重要性。