Identification of Candidate Surface Markers Associated With Osteogenic Potential in Human Dental Pulp‐Derived Cells

ABSTRACT Aim Dental pulp‐derived cells have attracted attention as an accessible source of mesenchymal stem cell‐like cells for bone regeneration. However, donor‐to‐donor variability in osteogenic potential remains a challenge for their clinical application. This study aimed to characterize human dental pulp‐derived cells from permanent teeth and to identify candidate surface markers associated with in vitro mineralization capacity. Methods Dental pulp cells were isolated from extracted human third molars ( n = 6 donors) and expanded to Passage 3. Cell surface antigen expression was analyzed by flow cytometry, and osteogenic potential was evaluated by Alizarin Red S staining and absorbance measurement after osteogenic induction. Results The expanded adherent cells exhibited a mesenchymal stem cell‐like surface antigen profile, with high expression of CD73, CD90, and CD105 and low expression of hematopoietic and endothelial markers. Under osteogenic induction conditions, the cells formed Alizarin Red S‐positive mineralized deposits, although the extent of mineralization varied among donor‐derived cell lines. Correlation analysis between the positivity of 20 cell surface markers associated with mesenchymal and progenitor cell populations and in vitro mineralization, assessed by Alizarin Red S absorbance, showed that CD49e, CD106, and CD140a were identified as candidate markers positively associated with mineralization capacity. Conclusion These findings suggest that CD49e, CD106, and CD140a may represent candidate markers reflecting the osteogenic potential of dental pulp‐derived cells and may be useful for the selection and quality assessment of cell populations for future bone regeneration applications.