Powerful New Stem Cells Cloned from Cheek Tissue

Cloned oral progenitor cells (PCs) isolated from cheek tissue were demonstrated to be potently immunosuppressive in a dose- and contact-independent manner.

Oral mucosal lamina propria progenitor cells (OMLP-PCs) are a novel, clonally derived PC population of neural crest origin with the potential to differentiate down both mesenchymal and neuronal cell lineages. The OMLP-PC line was derived from cells taken from the inside lining of cheeks of patients undergoing routine dental procedures at School of Dentistry, Cardiff University (Cardiff, United Kingdom).

Tests showed that even small doses of the cells could completely inhibit lymphocytes. Complete inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation was seen at doses as low as 0.001% OMLP-PCs to responder lymphocytes, while annexin V staining confirmed that this immunosuppressive effect was not due to the induction of lymphocyte apoptosis.

These and additional findings of the study, published online in the journal Stem Cells and Development, February, 2012, demonstrates for the first time that OMLP-PC immunomodulation, unlike that for mesenchymal stem cells, occurs via a dose- and HLA II-independent mechanism by the release of immunosuppressive soluble factors.

The results suggest that OMLP-PCs are suitable candidates for allogeneic tissue engineering and may have wide-ranging potential for immune-related therapies, such as to prevent rejection of transplanted organs and to treat the form of diabetes resulting from lymphocyte attack of insulin-producing cells.

Dr. Lindsay Davies, first author and researcher at Cardiff, said, "At this stage, these are only laboratory results. We have yet to recreate the effect outside the laboratory and any treatments will be many years away. However, these cells are extremely powerful and offer promise for combating a number of diseases. They are also easy to collect -- bone marrow stem cells require an invasive biopsy, whereas we just harvest a small biopsy from inside the mouth."

The study was performed in collaboration with scientists at the Karolinska Institute (Stockholm, Sweden).

Related Links:
School of Dentistry, Cardiff University
Karolinska Institute