Australian researchers have discovered that stem cells taken from teeth can grow to resemble brain cells, suggesting they could one day be used in the brain as a therapy for strokes. Their findings have been published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy (February 27, 2014, Vol. 5:30).
Laboratory studies at the University of Adelaide Centre for Stem Cell Research show that stem cells from teeth can develop and form complex networks of brain-like cells, according to a university press release. Although these cells haven't developed into fully fledged neurons, researchers believe it's just a matter of time and the right conditions for it to happen.
"Stem cells from teeth have great potential to grow into new brain or nerve cells, and this could potentially assist with treatments of brain disorders, such as stroke," said lead author Kylie Ellis, PhD, the commercial development manager with the university's Adelaide Research & Innovation firm.
"The reality is, treatment options available to the thousands of stroke patients every year are limited," Ellis said. "Ultimately, we want to be able to use a patient's own stem cells for tailor-made brain therapy that doesn't have the host rejection issues commonly associated with cell-based therapies. Another advantage is that dental pulp stem cell therapy may provide a treatment option available months or even years after the stroke has occurred," she said.
Ellis found that stem cells derived from teeth developed into cells that closely resembled neurons.
"We can do this by providing an environment for the cells that is as close to a normal brain environment as possible, so that instead of becoming cells for teeth they become brain cells," Ellis said. "What we developed wasn't identical to normal neurons, but the new cells shared very similar properties to neurons. They also formed complex networks and communicated through simple electrical activity, like you might see between cells in the developing brain."
The research with dental pulp stem cells opens up the potential for modeling many more common brain disorders in the laboratory, which could help in developing new treatments and techniques for patients.
