Stem cells to aid oral disease treatments

BOSTON, April 6 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say human embryonic stem cells will potentially provide an unlimited source of oral mucosal tissues, revolutionizing oral disease treatments.

Tufts University scientists said such stem cells will be able to produce functional tissues to treat a broad variety of oral diseases. Toward that end, the researchers said they have used tissue engineering principles to produce complex oral-lining tissues that mimic many features of oral cavity tissue.

They said that achievement marked, for the first time, proof of concept that a single, common source of pluripotent human embryonic stem cells can provide the multiple cell types needed to be recombined within different, but interactive, tissue compartments to generate complex, multilayer tissues.

In addition to providing oral mucosal tissues for future transplantation, the researchers said the tissues generated in their study can be used to answer questions regarding the stability and safety of such stem cells and tissues by providing information that will predict how they will respond after therapeutic transplantation in the future.

The findings were presented last weekend in Miami during the 87th general session of the International Association for Dental Research.