Recently, investigators have discovered a unique type of mesenchymal
stem cell in the dental pulp of deciduous and permanent teeth. Scientists
have observed that these stem cells act differently than other adult
stem cells. These dentally-derived mesenchymal stem cells are
capable of extensive proliferation and differentiation, which makes
them an important resource of stem cells for regeneration and
repair of a multitude of diseased and injured organs and tissues.
Given their ability to produce and secrete neurotrophic factors,
these stem cells may also be beneficial for the treatment of neurodegenerative
diseases and the repair of motoneurons following injury.
Research on dental mesenchymal stem cells is expanding at an unprecedented rate. Over
1,000 research studies from institutions around the world have been published
since the year 2000 that make reference to dental stem cells. In the year
2007 alone, over 1000 research articles were published on Dental Stem Cells. Additionally,
over 60 clinical investigations with animals and human volunteers have been published
seeking to identify potential new medical treatments from adult stem cells.
Stem cell-based therapies are being investigated for the treatment of many conditions
including: neurodegenerative conditions, liver disease, diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, autoimmune diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, and for nerve regeneration
following brain or spinal cord injury.
As these clinical studies continue to advance in the years ahead, it is widely
expected that to avoid autoimmune rejection from donor tissues and to maximize
therapeutic efficacy, stem cells will be used to generate a specific treatment
for a specific patient. The emerging field of "Personalized Medicine" is
a popular topic in the media, which generally refers to new medical technologies
derived from a patient’s own stem cells and the use of genomic diagnostics.
While we can see the promise of human stem cell therapies for the future, Dentists
know that it is important to act now to harvest and store cells from deciduous
teeth and third molars while the opportunities are available to child and adolescent
patients.
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