Stem Cells May Become Source of Oral Tissue

Stem cells are regarded by many as the next step in the science of curing people, on account of the fact that they have the potential to develop into any type of cell that a doctor may need to treat someone. For instance, there are researchers who say that, in the near future, human embryonic stem cells (hESC) could be used to create things as complex as oral mucosa and skin samples, which may be of great use for burnt victims, or for people in excruciating tooth pain, for which other treatments are not an option.

One of the main things that stop this progress is the extremely complex nature of the tissue that can be found around the gums, cheeks and lips, as well as the ligaments that keep everything in place. These are highly specialized cells, which have evolved to fulfill a specific role inside the human body over countless generations. Finding ways to figure out how they work is a very difficult job, but one that has to be done nonetheless. Before experts could move to creating portions of the oral cavity anew, they have to be able to construct single layers at first.

Speaking on Saturday at the 87th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research, Tufts University in Boston (TU) researchers have laid out their plans to investigate how hESC work and how they can be manipulated to perform certain duties. Their express goal is to create multi-layered tissues, able to perform any task inside the oral cavity or when replacing skin. The tissues need to be able to produce saliva, to protect the cheeks from rubbing against the teeth and so on.

The TU experts, working with investigator J. Garlick, say in their abstract, “Microenvironmental Cues Direct 3D Tissues from Human Embryonic Stem Cells,” that they have managed to create a proof-of-concept that hESC can be directed to grow into several types of adult cells, to be combined in any way the scientists please, if they are to create multi-layered tissues. Now, the scientists' main research will focus on how the cells behave in the long run, and if they are fit for transplantation.