The Comparison of the Differentiation Potential of Periodontal Ligament and Dental Pulp Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Inflammatory Synovium Microenvironment

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Dental mesenchymal stem cells are easily accessible sources for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and can rapidly proliferate in culture conditions. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and multi-systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease that results in cartilage damage. The present study aimed to investigate the regenerative potential of dental MSCs in the synovial fluid microenvironment of patients with RA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Synovial fluid samples (8-10 mL/patient) were collected from patients with RA (age; 48−67 years). Dental pulp (DP) and periodontal ligament (PL) tissues were collected from healthy individuals, and the tissues were enzymatically digested in 3 mg/mL collagenase type I. MSCs were cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM). The cells were cultured in the presence and absence of the synovial fluid samples of the patients with RA and subjected to flow cytometry analysis for cell surface expressions of positive markers for chondrogenesis (CD49e) and an osteogenic marker (alkaline phosphatase; ALP). The differentiation capacity of MSCs was evaluated with osteogenic or chondrogenic stimulation media and analyzed by staining the cells with Alizarin Red or Alcian Blue, respectively. RESULTS: The cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β (61.1±9.8) and IL-6 (2386.7±397.4) were significantly higher in the end-stage RA-SF samples, compared to the early-stage RA-SF samples (IL-1β:35.2±4.8, IL-6:561.3±197.6) (p