Posted on 04/02/2021 1:10:44 PM PDT by Red Badger
False teeth could one day be a thing of the past, thanks to the discovery of an antibody that sparks the regeneration of lost teeth. By inhibiting the action of a gene called USAG-1, the antibody increases the availability of certain growth factors, and could eventually be used to help people grow a new set of pearly whites.
Publishing their work in the journal Science Advances, a team of researchers describes how they genetically modified mice to suffer from tooth agenesis, where some teeth fail to develop. Injecting pregnant mice from this line with the USAG-1 antibody, however, resulted in normal tooth development among their offspring. Moreover, a single administration of the antibody caused the growth of a whole new tooth in regular mice.
The researchers decided to target the USAG-1 gene because it is known to inhibit two signaling molecules known as BMP and Wnt, both of which are involved in tooth development. However, because these compounds also control the growth of a wide range of other organs, interfering with them can produce an array of serious side-effects.
During their experiments, the team tested a number of different monoclonal antibodies that alter the ability of USAG-1 to interact with both BMP and Wnt, although several of these produced serious birth defects. Eventually, though, they hit upon a particular antibody that prevented the gene from binding with BMP, but had no impact on Wnt.
In doing so, they were able to stimulate tooth growth without producing any other unwanted effects. Based on this finding, the authors conclude that USAG-1 prevents the growth of teeth by binding to BMP, thereby reducing its activity.
In a statement, study author Katsu Takahashi explained that "we knew that suppressing USAG-1 benefits tooth growth. What we did not know was whether it would be enough." Yet the team’s results indicate that inhibiting the gene’s activity allows for a sufficient increase in BMP for the growth of new teeth.
While this technique is nowhere near ready to be trialed on humans, the researchers did test the antibody on ferrets. These animals have similar dental patterns to humans, and, like us, are diphyodont, meaning they have a set of milk teeth that are later replaced by adult teeth.
Results indicated that the treatment is just as effective for ferrets, with a single dose of the antibody sparking the generation of a whole tooth. This suggests that the technique may work for humans, too, although a number of safety concerns will need to be overcome before this can be tested.
For now, the researchers say they are planning to repeat the experiment on other mammals such as pigs and dogs.
I have no teeth and would be willing to be in any human study. that might happen in my life time. dentures hurt when worn any length of time....my bet is I will be dead and buried by the time they turn this into a treatment.
Wow, you would be able to chew the same food twice! Yuck.
The main cause of inability to repair teeth is having high vitamin A stores.
This is good news. I hope they figure out how to regrow hair.... !
I saw that claim more than 10 years ago, and it hasn’t appeared in practical medicine. Such articles are getting old and tiresome.
Didnt H Biden regrow his meth devastated chomps?
Whatever you’re drinking, you need to stop.
I lost a few molars to trauma and turns out I’m allergic to titanium
Dentist said my bite is way to hard for sapphire so I’m stuck with a couple super expensive zirconium on platinum bridges that have a life expectancy of maybe 15 years
If they can make this shit work I’ll be a guinea pig
“Don’t do meth, Beth.”
Had Paul Simon wrote his song ‘50 Ways to Leave Your Lover’ today instead of in 1975 he might have used that as a lyric.
Good news, you are growing a new set of teeth.
Bad news, they are all over your body.
Read later.
(How long will it be before we start hearing "trans-species rights!", being bellowed by blithering buffoons?)
Teeth are one thing but what if there is too much bone loss in the jaw?
I was thinking the exact same thing when I read that article. Hockey players are jumping up and down for joy.
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