Background
Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are derived from pulp tissue lodged within human teeth and are mesenchymal in origin. These DPSCs have been demonstrated to dissociate into clusters of various cell lineages and are very easy to isolate, culture, and expand. Melatonin, a multifaceted molecule with a spectrum of effects in the human body, is known to influence stem cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation, but little is known about the impact melatonin has on the capacity of DPSCs to differentiate into adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes. The primary
Conclusions
Melatonin could be used in stem cell and tissue engineering applications for osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs and could protect these cells due to its cytoprotective, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant roles, in addition to being an osteopromoter molecule.
Results
DPSCs obtained from human teeth demonstrated surface characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells, as shown by the positive expression of CD105, CD90, and CD73 markers. An MTT cytotoxicity assay revealed that melatonin was well tolerated by the cells at low (1 µM) and high (25 µM) concentrations. Assessment of DPSC cell differentiation elucidated that melatonin at 1 µM and 25 µM concentrations with the induction media stimulated DPSCs to differentiate into osteocytes, but did not have much influence on adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. (4) Conclusions: Melatonin could be used in stem cell and tissue engineering applications for osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs and could protect these cells due to its cytoprotective, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant roles, in addition to being an osteopromoter molecule.