Optimal Xeno-free Culture Condition for Clinical Grade Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) are a promising clinical resource for various tissue defects, including lumbar spondylosis, neural compression, and cleft palate. Use of media containing animal-derived serum carries potential risk of infectious diseases and unwanted immunogenicity. To increase the potential utility of SHED for clinical application, SHED was adapted to xeno-free conditions. METHODS: Define xeno-free culture media were compared with the conventional serum containing media in the culture of SHED. Cultured SHED in different media were further characterized through proliferative capacities, cellular phenotype, and differentiation potential. RESULTS: Selected xeno-free media were capable of supporting the growth of SHED. MSCGM-CD Bulletkit medium greatly increased the number and proliferate capacity of colony-forming unit-fibroblast than SHED cultured in other media. In addition, the characteristic surface markers expression and multipotent differentiation potential of SHED in the MSCGM-CD Bulletkit medium were comparable to those observed with serum-containing medium. CONCLUSIONS: The xeno-free medium described herein has the potential to be further used for the safe expansion and to determine efficient way to produce clinical grade dental stem cells for therapeutic applications.