Abstract
Stem cell therapy has a prevailing role as a potential treatment option in dentistry. Dental tissue regeneration provides an alternative to the current conventional restoration therapies. The oral cavity is the most affluent stem cell source in the human body. These stem cells are now accepted as being fundamental to different types of dental and non dental tissue regeneration. The aim of this study was to isolate human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from adipose tissue (ASCs) and oral mucosal tissue (OMSCs) and confirm their differentiation potentials, including the chondrogenic lineage. ASCs and OMSCs cultures were analyzed for cell shape, cell cycle, proliferation potential (MTT assay) and stem cell markers (CD90, CD105). The chondrogenic differentiation potential of ASCs and OMSCs induced with chondrogenic induction medium and was estimated by means of Alcian Blue stain as well as quantitative real time RT-PCR using collagen II. Our data discovered that ASCs and OMSCs showed a significant increase in cell viability from day 14 to day 21, representing high cell proliferation rate(80-90%), where ASCs proliferated faster than OMSCs. Moreover, ASCs and OMSCs can efficiently differentiate into cartilage forming cells expressing collagen II. This study provides evidence that ASCs and OMSCs can be used in tissue engineering/regeneration protocols as an accessible stem cell source.