The present invention is directed to a method of preparing an artificial tooth primordium in vitro, comprising the steps: a) providing isolated mesenchymal dental pulp cells; and b) culturing the mesenchymal dental pulp cells under non-adherent conditions to form a cell aggregate representing an artificial tooth primordium; as well as to an artificial tooth primordium derived therefrom.

A method for purifying and enriching mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) simply and efficiently. Separation of cells expressing CD73 protein on the surface from fresh tissue isolated from a living body allows purification and enrichment of MSCs easily and efficiently. MSCs may be selectively isolated with a single antibody before culturing to establish a culture system of mesenchymal stem cells that enhances the engraftment efficiency in the transplanted site.

The present method relates to methods of expanding or increasing stem cell production obtained from donor samples. The methods preferably including the steps of harvesting cells from minimally manipulated tissue using multiply harvesting cycles to increase the number of obtained stem cells.

The present invention relates to a composition for the differentiation of dental pulp stem cells into odontoblasts and an IgG or IgM type monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to the surface of odontoblasts differentiated from the stem cells. According to the present invention, BMP2 and BMP4 are optimally combined to significantly increase the differentiation efficiency of dental pulp stem cells into odontoblasts, to induce the mineralization of the matrix, and to improve the differentiation ability of odontoblasts into dentin. Further, the IgG or IgM monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to the surface of odontoblasts of the present invention is used to effectively isolate and purify odontoblasts, which can be useful for tissue regeneration and differentiation.

Compositions and methods of promoting wound healing in a human by administering to the human mesenchymal stem cells in an effective amount.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide immortalized stem cells, which produce a growth factor capable of regenerating various kinds of tissues that have been damaged by a variety of causes, and a method for producing the aforesaid immortalized stem cells. Another purpose is to provide a medicinal composition and a medicinal preparation for restoring damaged tissues, and a method for the percutaneous absorption of a culture supernatant. Provided are immortalized stem cells that are obtained by isolating stem cells selected from the group consisting of mammalian mesenchymal cells, an embryo at the early stage of the development and somatic cells, first culturing the cells to give first stage culture cells, transferring four kinds of genes into the first stage culture cells to give transgenic cells, and selecting the desired immortalized stem cells from among the transgenic cells using the expression of STRO-1 as an index.

A method for isolating and proliferating at least one type of precursor cell from dental origin from a single donor includes the following isolating the precursor cells from dental origin of a single donor in a sample collection media and preparing a primary stock culture. The primary stock culture is proliferated sequentially to obtain first, second and third sub-cultured stocks with cell counts ranging between 5×10.sup.6 cells and 10×10.sup.6 cells, 20×10.sup.6 cells and 400×10.sup.6 cells, 150×10.sup.6 and 300×10.sup.6 cells respectively. The precursor cells from the third subculture are harvested and cryo-preserved to obtain a precursor cell population for cell transplantation. The dental origin of the precursor cells is from pulp, apical papilla or periodontal ligament. The precursor cell originates from mesenchymal stem cells, ecto-mesenchymal cells, neural stem cells, dental progenitor cells or CD117.sup.+ cells.

Disclosed are a therapeutic agent for muscular dystrophy employing pluripotent stem cells obtained from dental pulp and a method for preparation thereof. The therapeutic agent for muscular dystrophy comprises pluripotent stem cell-enriched human dental pulp-derived cells as the active ingredient, and is prepared by a method of preparation comprising the steps of: (a) adding dental pulp-derived cells contained in a dental pulp suspension, in a culture vessel containing feeder cells whose proliferative ability is suppressed, onto a membrane having micropores that can block feeder cells from passing therethrough and supported within the vessel in a manner that avoids direct contact of the lower side face thereof with the feeder cells, and culturing the dental pulp-derived cells on the membrane while preventing direct contact with the feeder cells, and (b) recovering the cells having grown on the membrane as the pluripotent stem cell-enriched human dental pulp-derived cells.

The present invention is directed to therapeutic multifunctional immature dental pulp stem cells (IDPSCs), and IDPSCs multi-lineage compositions. The invention is further directed to the use of IDPSCs and compositions to reduce the risk of and/or treat degenerative diseases or for other medicinal and aesthetic purposes.

The invention relates to a new type of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) which co-express at least one mesenchymal marker, preferably at least CD105 and CD34. Also provided are bone-forming cells having an analogous phenotype. The invention also provides the cells and cell populations, as well as further products comprising such and uses thereof in bone therapy.