Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth as an alternative cell source for cartilage regeneration and repair

Purpose Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) hold promise for cartilage regeneration due to their chondrogenic potential and minimally invasive procurement. However, the in vivo cartilage regenerative capacity of SHED remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to compare the proliferative, migratory, and chondrogenic capacity of SHED and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in vitro, and to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of SHED delivered via alginate hydrogel in a rat model of knee cartilage defect.Methods SHED was isolated from human exfoliated deciduous teeth, and the proliferation, migration, and chondrogenic differentiation were assessed in comparison with DPSCs in vitro. For in vivo cartilage repair evaluation, SHED encapsulated in alginate hydrogel were implanted into knee cartilage defects in rats. Repair outcomes were analyzed using International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) scoring and histological assessments, including collagen type I and II deposition.Results SHED was successfully isolated with a 76% success rate and exhibited significantly higher proliferative and migratory capacities than DPSCs. After chondrogenic induction, SHED produced markedly greater levels of aggrecan and type II collagen. In vivo, compared with the control group and the hydrogel-only group, implantation of SHED-laden alginate hydrogel significantly improved ICRS scores, and the regenerated cartilage tissue showed increased type II collagen deposition and decreased type I collagen deposition.Conclusions These findings demonstrate that SHED exhibits stronger activity than DPSCs in vitro, and can effectively promote cartilage defect repair after in situ implantation. Therefore, SHED is a potential cell source for cartilage defect repair and regeneration.