Hypoxia is one kind of important physiological and pathological phenomenon. Recent studies have shown that hypoxia has effects on the proliferation and differentiation of adult stem cells. Dental pulp is often exposed to ischemia and hypoxia, for the reason that its anatomical location is susceptible to stimuli or injury. Researches on the effects of hypoxia in adult stem cells may provide new methods to study the biological functions of dental pulp stem cells, especially when these cells following exposure to hypoxia. This review emphasized the effects of hypoxia on the proliferation and differentiation of adult stem cells, the mechanism that involved in these processes，the role of hypoxia in the regulation of dental pulp cells proliferation and differentiation.
