Where are stem cells located?
Mesenchymal stem cells are found in bone marrow, adipose tissue, blood vessel walls, synovium, muscle, placenta and umbilical cord blood. Recently, it has been discovered that these cells are also found in dental pulp, periodontal ligament and the periosteum. Dental pulp contains a variety of cell types, including fibroblasts, odontoblasts, lymphocytes, histiocytes, erythrocytes, neurons, and undifferentiated mesenchymal cells. An abundant source of these undifferentiated mesenchymal cells in permanent teeth is in the dental pulp of immature, impacted third molars. Recently, investigators have discovered a unique type of mesenchymal stem cell in the dental pulp of deciduous teeth. Stem cells from deciduous teeth, begin at the 6th week during the embryonic stage of human development.. Nicknamed ‘SHED” (Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous teeth), scientists believe that these stem cells behave differently than post-natal (adult) stem cells. SHED cells multiply rapidly and grow muc
