Dental News - Blood vessel cells aid tissue repair in teeth

Daniel Zimmermann, DTI

Tue. 10 May 2011

save

NEW YORK, NY, USA/LEIPZIG, Germany: Research presented at the first global symposium for dental stem cell research in New York could mean a new breakthrough in tissue and organ repair. In an experiment involving rodent incisors, researchers from the UK, Brazil and the US found that connective tissue cells, usually found in small blood vessels, can transform into specialised cells to repair damaged tissue.

Previous research suggested that so-called pericytes have the potential to transform into different cells. This new study is the first claiming to have found genetic evidence that pericytes can also act as stem cells. In the experiment, they transformed into tooth cells to regenerate lost or damaged tissue.

“This is the first time perivascular cells have been shown to differentiate into specialised cells during a natural repair process,“ says Prof. Paul Sharpe from the Department of Craniofacial Development in the Dental Institute at King’s College London, who led the study. “In addition to the obvious significance for understanding the cellular mechanisms of tissue repair, it also has wider implications for areas of regenerative medicine/dentistry directed towards stimulating natural repair following tissue damage or disease.”

The results have been published in the latest issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, a journal based in the UK.

To post a reply please login or register

Stem cells from monkey teeth stimulate growth of brain cells

LEIPZIG, Germany: Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, USA, have discovered dental pulp stem cells can stimulate ...

Dental pulp cells for stem cell banking

ALEXANDRIA, VA, USA: Defined sets of factors can reprogramme human cells to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. However, many types of human cells are not...

Scientists use teeth to measure temp of dino blood

NEW YORK, USA: New findings using dinosaur teeth could help to explain how the reptiles were able to regulate their body temperature, researchers from the ...

AAE: Issue in implant debate comes down to saving teeth

CHICAGO, IL, USA: The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) expressed serious concerns over recent assertions by the American Academy of Implant ...

Managing early caries in pediatric patients with Curodont Repair Fluoride Plus

According to the National Institutes of Health’s Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges report, dental caries is the most prevalent dental ...

Teeth can be saved for future stem cell harvesting

FERNDALE, USA: Recent research has shown that normally shedding baby teeth and extracted wisdom teeth can be a source of stem cells that are the ...

Int'l conference on dental and craniofacial stem cells to be held in New York

NEW YORK CITY: Columbia University’s College of Dental Medicine will host the First International Conference on Dental and Craniofacial Stem Cells ...

Breakthrough in tooth-tissue engineering announced

NEW YORK, USA/LEIPZIG, Germany: Researchers at the University of Illinois in the US could have discovered the key to re-growing tooth enamel. In a ...

AGD calls for cooperation in improving care for children

CHICAGO, Ill., USA: More than 16 million U.S. children suffer from dental decay, and research shows that many parents lack basic information about oral ...

Advances in teeth whitening

Dentistry’s primary concerns are establishing and maintaining optimal patient oral health. Our responsibilities include identification and control of ...

Education

Live webinar
Thu. 11 September 2025
1:00 PM EST (New York)