Human SCAP were isolated from an extracted immature mandibular third molar of a male patient aged 18 years old by a method used in a previous study (11 (link)). All protocols were reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Guanghua School and Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou, China). The osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation capacities of SCAP were identified by Alizarin Red staining and Oil Red O staining (Cyagen Biosciences, Inc., Guangzhou, China), respectively (11 (link)). The typical phenotypes, including STRO-1/Alexa Fluor 647-Allophycocyanin (BioLegend, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA), CD146/Phycoerythrin (BD Pharmingen, San Diego, CA, USA), CD24/Fluorescein Isothiocyanate (FITC) (BD Pharmingen) and CD45/FITC (BD Pharmingen), using the 2nd passage of SCAP were assessed using a FACSCalibur flow cytometer (BD Biosciences, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA).