Stem cells in tooth pulp could be used in research

doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7396.950/b

BMJ 2003;326:950 ( 3 May )

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Tooth pulp may be a good source of stem cells

Researchers from the United States and Australia have found that deciduous teeth have robust stem cells in their dental pulp.The finding is important, because such teeth may serve as an easilyobtainable alternative to embryonic stem cells, the use of whichhas provedcontroversial.

Moreover, like umbilical cord blood, they may serve as a ready source of autologous and bankable stem cells, the study says(published online before print in the Proceedings of the NationalAcademy of Science of the United States of America, www.pnas.org).

Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into a wide variety of cell types. Theoretically they can be grown into variousorgans, as well as into nerve, bone, or haematopoeiticcells.

The researchers, led by Dr Songtao Shi, a paediatric dentist based at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research,Bethesda, Maryland, isolated stem cells from the baby teeth ofchildren aged seven or eightyears.

The researchers found that pulp from incisor teeth had more stem cell activity than molars and that between 12 and 20 cellsfrom deciduous incisors were stem cells.

(Credit: PASCAL GOETGHELUCK/SPL)

Deborah Josefson, Nebraska