Review articleMultifaceted neuro-regenerative activities of human dental pulp stem cells for functional recovery after spinal cord injury

•We summarized a primary character of dental pulp stem cells.•Pulp stem cells promote functional recovery after SCI of model animals.•Pulp stem cells exert multifaceted neuro-regenerative activities.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to persistent functional deficits due to the loss of neurons and glia and to limited axonal regeneration after such injury. Recently, three independent groups have reported marked recovery of hindlimb locomotor function after the transplantation of human adult dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) into rats or mice with acute, sub-acute or chronic SCI. This review summarizes the primary characteristics of human dental pulp stem cells and their therapeutic benefits for treating SCI. Experimental data from multiple preclinical studies suggest that pulp stem cells may promote functional recovery after SCI through multifaceted neuro-regenerative activities.