Glial cells: new origin of dental mesenchymal stem cells

Dental mesenchymal stem cells derive from neural crest cells after migrating from the early head of ectomesenchymal tissue. They later give rise to pulp cells and odontoblasts. Glial cells are another cell lineage neural crest cells derived. With surprisingly broad developmental potential, glial cells can differentiate to many cell types such as neurons and dental mesenchymal stem cells. Besides, glial cells from different developmental stages are interchangeable. Current consensus holds that perivascular cells form mesenchymal stem cells in most tissues. However, recent researches show that a few dental mesenchymal stem cells are derived from peripheral nerve-associated glia. This review aims to introduce a new and prospective origin of dental mesenchymal stem cells for dentistry regeneration by summaring the development of neural crest cells, dental mesenchymal stem cells and glial cells as well as glial cell derived cells. Key words: Mesenchymal stem cell; Neural crest; Schwann cells; Neuroglia