Can Dental Stem Cells Be Used to Treat Autoimmune Diseases?

Your immune system is like a security team in a mall.

When it works well, it keeps out intruders (bacteria, viruses) and lets shoppers (your healthy cells) go about their day.

However, in the case of autoimmune diseases, this security team gets confused and starts attacking the shoppers, mistaking them for threats.

This leads to chronic inflammation and damage to healthy tissues.

Scientists are now investigating dental stem cells (DSCs) as a potential way to retrain this overactive security team and restore balance.

What are Dental Stem Cells?

Stem cells are special cells that can turn into different types of cells in the body.

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are a type of stem cell found in many tissues, including bone marrow, fat, and even teeth!

Dental Stem Cells (DSCs) are MSCs from dental tissues, such as wisdom teeth, baby teeth, and gum tissues.

These cells are useful for growing new tissues and have powerful immune-regulating abilities.

How Do DSCs Help in Autoimmune Diseases?

DSCs are peacekeepers that intervene when the immune system goes rogue.

Instead of fighting infections like immune cells do, DSCs act like diplomats, calming the immune system down when it gets too aggressive.

They release special molecules called cytokines, which influence how immune cells behave.

Here’s how DSCs help control inflammation:

1. They tell immune cells to calm down – DSCs release signals that reduce the activity of T-cells and B-cells, the main troublemakers in autoimmune diseases.
2. They promote regulatory T-cells (Tregs) – Tregs are like the referees of the immune system that ensure immune responses don’t go overboard.
3. They change how macrophages behave – Macrophages can trigger or resolve inflammation. DSCs encourage them to switch to their healing mode.
4. They influence antibody production – In some autoimmune diseases, B-cells produce harmful antibodies that attack the body. DSCs can help slow down this process.

What Diseases Could DSCs Help Treat?

Scientists are investigating DSCs for several autoimmune diseases, including:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) – In RA, the immune system attacks the joints, causing pain and swelling. DSCs may help reduce inflammation and protect joint tissue.
• Multiple sclerosis (MS) – MS occurs when the immune system damages nerve coverings, leading to movement and coordination issues. DSCs might help by reducing inflammation and supporting nerve repair.
• Type 1 diabetes – This condition happens when the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. DSCs could help by calming down the immune attack.

Can DSCs be Used in Treatments Today?

While research is promising, we’re still in the early stages.

Scientists are testing DSC-based treatments in labs and clinical trials to make sure they are safe and effective.

The good news is DSCs can be easily collected from extracted teeth!

This is a non-invasive and ethical source of stem cells compared to other methods like bone marrow extraction.

The Road Ahead: Enhancing DSC Therapies

Researchers are looking for ways to make DSC treatments even better. Some strategies include:

• Boosting DSC function – Scientists are exploring how to make DSCs more effective by exposing them to certain conditions before treatment.
• Using biomaterials – Special scaffolds or gels might help DSCs survive longer in the body and deliver their healing effects more efficiently.
• Combining with other therapies – DSCs might work even better alongwith existing autoimmune treatments.

Conclusion

Dental stem cells are promising in treating autoimmune diseases by acting as natural immune regulators!

While we are not yet at the stage where they are widely available as treatments, ongoing research brings us closer to harnessing their full potential.

So, the next time you hear about a pulled wisdom tooth, think about how those tiny cells might one day help treat complex diseases.

The future of medicine might just be hiding in our teeth!

What say?!

Post inspiration: Li, P., Ou, Q., Shi, S. et al. Immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells/dental stem cells and their therapeutic applications. Cell Mol Immunol 20, 558–569 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41423-023-00998-yth!