Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (1): 163-174.doi: 10.12307/2025.571

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Therapeutic potential of bioactive substances secreted by dental mesenchymal stem cells for bone repair

Zhang Zhaowei, Chen Ouzile, Bai Mingru, Wang Chenglin   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
  • Received:2024-11-12 Accepted:2025-01-17 Online:2026-01-08 Published:2025-07-02
  • Contact: Wang Chenglin, MD, Associate professor, State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
  • About author:Zhang Zhaowei, Master candidate, State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Sichuan Natural Science Foundation Project, No. 2024NSFSC0551 (to WCL); Clinical Research Project of West China Hospital of Stomatology of Sichuan University, No. LCYJ2029-18 (to WCL); National Natural Science Foundation Project, No. 82470962 (to BMR)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Dental mesenchymal stem cells are considered a promising source for bone tissue repair due to their high proliferation potential, osteogenic differentiation capacity, and immunomodulatory properties. However, some allogeneic applications of stem cells still have potential carcinogenic effects and immune rejection risks. Recently, studies have highlighted the paracrine effects mediated by secretions from dental mesenchymal stem cells in bone tissue repair. These secretions include the soluble factors and extracellular vesicles.
OBJECTIVE: To review the research progress of dental mesenchymal stem cells in repairing bone defects through paracrine effects.
METHODS: Using search terms “dental mesenchymal stem cell, paracrine, osteogenesis, conditioned medium, extracellular vesicle” in Chinese and English, relevant literature published between 2019 and 2024 was retrieved from databases including CNKI, PubMed, and Elsevier ScienceDirect. A total of 104 studies were ultimately selected for this review. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Dental mesenchymal stem cells-conditioned medium contains multiple bioactive factors beneficial for bone repair. These factors directly promote bone formation through regulatory agents such as osteocalcin, osteopontin, bone morphogenetic protein, and dentin sialophosphoprotein. They also play an indirect promoting role in bone tissue repair through neurotrophic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor, and immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory agents. (2) Dental derived mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles not only contain some cytokines from dental conditioned medium, but also various miRNAs, which promote bone repair by directly promoting osteogenesis, angiogenesis, regulating immune cells, and inflammation control. These extracellular vesicles can be engineered within different scaffold materials to achieve controlled or sustained release, enhancing therapeutic efficacy. 


Key words: dental mesenchymal stem cell, paracrine, osteogenesis, secretome, conditioned medium, exosome, bone tissue repair, engineered stem cell

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