Stem cells have been changing how the scientific community looks at the body’s capability to heal. These cells have been used in some studies focused on curing serious diseases and to extend the human’s lifespan. Scientists said stem cell therapy offers more benefits that they have yet to uncover. These cells are capable of becoming any type of cell and can independently renew themselves. Many previous and ongoing studies focused on how stem cells can help speed up regeneration. Since they can divide easily, scientists believe the cells could replace dead cells and promote a faster healing process. One of the studies aimed at utilizing stem cells was led by researchers at the University of Plymouth. The team said that stem cell therapy may soon replace traditional, costly and painful methods for tooth repair. “Stem cells are so important, as, in the future, they could be used by laboratories to regenerate tissues that have been damaged or lost due to disease -- so it's vital to understand how they work," Bing Hu, lead researcher from University of Plymouth's Peninsula Dental School, said in a statement. The researchers published their findings in the journal Nature Communications. Hu and his team worked with other researchers from around the world to study a new population of mesenchymal stem cells in mice. The mesenchymal cells play an important role in the development of skeletal tissues of muscles and bones. This type of stem cells also supports the formation of the hard tissue covering the main body of a tooth, called dentin. Hu’s team found that the mesenchymal stem cells can be activated by a gene called Dlk1 and that the process also supports tissue regeneration in tooth healing. "By uncovering both the new stem cells that make the main body of a tooth and establishing their vital use of Dlk1 in regenerating the tissue, we have taken major steps in understanding stem cell regeneration,” Hu said. The researchers hoped they could use Dlk1 to manage the production of stem cells to speed up tooth repair. Potential applications of the gene and stem cell therapy include treating common tooth problems like decay and tooth crumbling. The team aims to continue the study to better understand how Dlk1 and stem cells work. Future research may also seek other areas where stem cells can help treat tooth problems. Source
