idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft

Nachrichten, Termine, Experten

Grafik: idw-Logo
Grafik: idw-Logo

idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft

Science Video Project
idw-Abo

idw-News App:

AppStore

Google Play Store



Instance:
Share on: 
08/09/2019 13:07

A new method of tooth repair? Scientists uncover mechanisms that could help future dental treatment

Katrin Presberger Pressestelle
Technische Universität Dresden

    Researchers from TU Dresden’s Biotechnology Center teamed up with international scientists that led to the discovery of a new stem cell population in the front teeth of mice

    Stem cells hold the key for tissue engineering, as they develop into specialised cell types throughout the body including in teeth. An international team of researchers, including scientists from the Biotechnology Center of the TU Dresden (BIOTEC), has found a new mechanism that could offer a potential new solution to tooth repair. They discovered a new population of mesenchymal stromal cells in a continuously growing mouse incisor model. They have shown that these cells contribute to the formation of dentin, the hard tissue that covers the main body of a tooth. Importantly, the work showed that when these stem cells are activated, they send signals back to the mother cells of the tissue to control the number of cells produced, through a molecular gene called Dlk1. This study is the first to show that Dlk1 is vital for this process to work. In the same study, the researchers also demonstrated that Dlk1 can enhance stem cell activation and tissue regeneration in a wound healing model. This mechanism could provide an innovative solution for tooth repair, addressing problems such as tooth decay, crumbling and trauma treatment. Further studies are needed to validate the results for clinical applications to determine the appropriate duration and dose of treatment.

    The study was led by Dr Bing Hu of the Peninsula Dental School of the University of Plymouth, UK. Co-authors were research group leader Dr. Denis Corbeil and his colleague Dr. Jana Karbanová from BIOTEC. "The discovery of this new population of stromal cells was very exciting and has enormous potential in regenerative medicine," says Dr. Denis Corbeil.


    Contact for scientific information:

    Dr. Denis Corbeil
    Tel: +49 (0) 351 463-40118
    Email: denis.corbeil@tu-dresden.de
    Webpage: http://www.biotec.tu-dresden.de/research/corbeil/


    Original publication:

    Nature Communications: “Transit Amplifying Cells Coordinate Mouse Incisor Mesenchymal Stem Cell Activation” by Walker J.V., H. Zhuang, D. Singer, C. Illsle, W.L. Kok, K.K. Sivaraj, Y. Gao, C. Bolton, Y. Liu, M. Zhao, P.R.C. Grayson, S. Wang, J. Karbanová, T. Lee, S. Ardu, Q. Lai, J. Liu, M. Kassem, S. Chen, K. Yang, Y. Bai, C. Tredwin, A.C. Zambon, D. Corbeil, R. Adams, B M. Abdallah and B. Hu


    Images

    The image shows a group of mesenchymal (green) stem cells migrating in a tooth to further regenerate tissues.
    The image shows a group of mesenchymal (green) stem cells migrating in a tooth to further regenerate ...
    Source: Media and Communications | University of Plymouth
    None


    Criteria of this press release:
    Journalists, Scientists and scholars, Students, all interested persons
    Biology, Medicine, Nutrition / healthcare / nursing
    transregional, national
    Research results, Scientific Publications
    English


     

    Help

    Search / advanced search of the idw archives
    Combination of search terms

    You can combine search terms with and, or and/or not, e.g. Philo not logy.

    Brackets

    You can use brackets to separate combinations from each other, e.g. (Philo not logy) or (Psycho and logy).

    Phrases

    Coherent groups of words will be located as complete phrases if you put them into quotation marks, e.g. “Federal Republic of Germany”.

    Selection criteria

    You can also use the advanced search without entering search terms. It will then follow the criteria you have selected (e.g. country or subject area).

    If you have not selected any criteria in a given category, the entire category will be searched (e.g. all subject areas or all countries).