Periodontal ligament stem cell (PDLSC)

Periodontal ligament stem cell (PDLSC) is a type of multipotent mesenchymal stem cell originally isolated from the periodontal ligament, the connective tissue between tooth and alveolar bone[1][3]. These cells have substantial self-renewal capacity and can differentiate into various cell types, including osteoblasts, adipocytes, cementoblasts, and chondrocytes, making them a prominent candidate for periodontal and dental tissue regeneration[1][3]. PDLSCs express mesenchymal stem cell markers including CD105, CD90, and CD73, as well as Stro-1 and CD146. They display immunomodulatory abilities similar to bone marrow MSCs and support angiogenesis, further enhancing their regenerative potential[1][3]. PDLSCs are not considered conventional druggable targets such as receptors or enzymes, but are instead manipulated or transplanted as therapeutic entities in regenerative medicine. Their use, especially allogeneic transplantation, raises safety concerns including immunogenicity, reduced function in inflamed or diseased-derived cells, and the theoretical risk for undesirable differentiation effects such as root resorption[1]. There is no well-defined drug that acts on PDLSC as a molecular target, but various bioactive materials, growth factors, scaffolds, and gene therapies have been used to enhance their regenerative function in tissue engineering approaches[3].

Other names

PDLSCsPeriodontal ligament mesenchymal stem cellPDL-derived MSC