Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Objective</jats:title><jats:p>Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) have bone regeneration ability and potential therapeutic applications. CD146, a cell adhesion protein expressed by vascular endothelial cells, is involved in osteoblastic differentiation of stem cells. The effect of CD146 on SHED‐mediated bone regeneration <jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic> remains unknown. We aimed to establish efficient conditions for SHED transplantation.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Materials and methods</jats:title><jats:p>SHED were isolated from the pulp of an extracted deciduous tooth and cultured; CD146‐positive (CD146<jats:sup>+</jats:sup>) and CD146‐negative (CD146<jats:sup>−</jats:sup>) populations were sorted. Heterogeneous populations of SHED and CD146<jats:sup>+</jats:sup> and CD146<jats:sup>−</jats:sup> cells were transplanted into bone defects generated in the skulls of immunodeficient mice. Micro‐computed tomography was performed immediately and 4 and 8 weeks later. Histological and immunohistochemical assessments were performed 8 weeks later.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Bone regeneration was observed upon transplantation with CD146<jats:sup>+</jats:sup> and heterogeneous populations of SHED, with significantly higher bone regeneration observed with CD146<jats:sup>+</jats:sup> cells. Bone regeneration was higher in the CD146<jats:sup>−</jats:sup> group than in the control group, but significantly lower than that in the other transplant groups at 4 and 8 weeks. Histological and immunohistochemical assessments revealed that CD146<jats:sup>+</jats:sup> cells promoted bone regeneration and angiogenesis.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>Transplantation of CD146<jats:sup>+</jats:sup> SHED into bone defects may be useful for bone regeneration.</jats:p></jats:sec>