Molars to Medicine: A Focused Review on the Pre-Clinical Investigation and Treatment of Secondary Degeneration following Spinal Cord Injury Using Dental Stem Cells

Sandra Jenkner, Jillian Mary Clark, Stan Gronthos, Ryan Louis O'Hare Doig

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can result in the permanent loss of mobility, sensation, and autonomic function. Secondary degeneration after SCI both initiates and propagates a hostile microenvironment that is resistant to natural repair mechanisms. Consequently, exogenous stem cells have been investigated as a potential therapy for repairing and recovering damaged cells after SCI and other CNS disorders. This focused review highlights the contributions of mesenchymal (MSCs) and dental stem cells (DSCs) in attenuating various secondary injury sequelae through paracrine and cell-to-cell communication mechanisms following SCI and other types of neurotrauma. These mechanistic events include vascular dysfunction, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, apoptosis and cell loss, neuroinflammation, and structural deficits. The review of studies that directly compare MSC and DSC capabilities also reveals the superior capabilities of DSC in reducing the effects of secondary injury and promoting a favorable microenvironment conducive to repair and regeneration. This review concludes with a discussion of the current limitations and proposes improvements in the future assessment of stem cell therapy through the reporting of the effects of DSC viability and DSC efficacy in attenuating secondary damage after SCI.

Original languageEnglish
JournalCells
Volume13
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished or Issued - 10 May 2024

Keywords

  • dental stem cells
  • mesenchymal stem cells
  • neurotrauma
  • secondary injury
  • spinal cord injury

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology

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