Could these stem cells actually form periodontal ligament and cementum when transplanted into mice?
Of the 13 transplants – each of which was derived from a distinct colony of stem cells cultured in the laboratory and loaded into a hydroxyapetite carrier – eight produced a dense mixture of cementum and periodontal ligament. Interestingly, the cells even produced fibrous structures similar to the so-called Sharpey’s fibers, which insert into both cementum and bone to hold teeth in place. The other five transplants showed no signs of differentiation. Shi said his group is now following up on this finding in larger animals. If successful, Shi said he would be eager to evaluate their regenerative ability in people with advanced periodontal disease, which can be extremely difficult to control with current treatments. “From a clinical point of view, what’s nice is these stem cells are easily accessible,” said Shi. “In theory, people could one day preserve, or bank, these stem cells when they have their wisdom teeth extracted, opening the door for biology-based regenerative treatment later
