New technology from NeoStem Inc has allowed researchers to use stem cells taken from adult cells to grow bone tissue in patients recovering from dental implants. The technology purifies very small embryonic like (VSEL) stem cells that are derived from the adult cells of the patient so that these VSEL stem cells can be used for treatment. This avoids the controversial use of embryonic stem cells taken from a fetus by instead utilizing a patient’s own cells. The benefit of the VSEL stem cells is that it uses stem cells from a patient’s own body that can then be transplanted back into the same patient.
The first step is to harvest the patient’s cells from a target region. As you may know, adults have small amounts of stem cells in various tissues throughout the body. The NeoStem technology isolates VSEL stem cells from other collected adult cells for a more concentrated population of stem cells. Researchers can then implant these purified VSEL stem cells back into the target area of the patient for growth.
The clinical research is being conducted at the University of Michigan Dental School and is intended to be used for patients who need bone tissue recovery. Usually when a patient needs a dental implant after a tooth extraction, it takes about 2-4 months for the implant to fuse with the mandibular bone tissue. This bone growth is usually painful so the use of VSEL stem cells would allow for a faster recovery from this procedure and other bone traumas. This higher concentration of stem cells could also lead to the development of stronger bone. This type of technology is a great step forward for using adult stem cells for certain treatments and can hopefully lead to some other stem cell therapies.
Posted by Poya Jafari (2)
For this type of procedure, how common is it for people to have this done? I'm assuming it's expensive and insurance may not cover it.
ReplyDelete- Kimberly Ty (3)
Whenever a patient has a tooth removed, they can have the missing space replaced with either an implant, a partial denture, or a bridge. Implants are costly being around $3000 and insurance usually doesn't cover this cost. As far as the use of VSEL stem cells, the procedure is still in its clinical research stage and is will be tested on 50 patients who need a tooth extraction followed by an implant.
DeletePoya Jafari (2)
If Stem cell research has come this far, and now used for dental patients, how soon do you think it will be used for other types of procedures?
ReplyDeleteCynthia Bui (1)
I think the technology used for the VSEL stem cell collection is a good start for the use of adult stem cells but I definitely think it will need at least a few more years to be put in regular practice. After these cells have shown to be effective for bone tissue recovery, then I think they will be more widely used for other cell regenerative procedures.
DeletePoya Jafari (2)
I am a little confused about the extraction of stem cells from adults. I thought that adults only have stem cells in their bone marrow and this has limited division abilities. Are VSEL stem cells similar to induced pluripotent cells?
ReplyDeleteposted by Ashley Sterpka (1)
There's actually stem cells found throughout the body in adults which is exciting. It's been discovered that there are dormant stem cells in blood and in most adult tissues that have pluripotent properties in vitro. These cells are the VSEL stem cells and the technology from NeoStem has the capabilities of separating VSEL cells from the rest of the tissue.
DeletePosted by Poya Jafari (2)
Where are they getting these stem cells? Are they induced into stem cells from normal adult cells? The article just says they are "derived from adults --not fetuses"; that is not very specific.
ReplyDeleteThe dental implant procedure discussed in the article is just one of many possible applications for stem cells. The real story is how they extracted, induced, purified or whatever they did to get these VSEL stem cells and the article did not elaborate on this at all.
Joseph Starrett(3)
There's actually stem cells found throughout the body in adults which is exciting. It's been discovered that there are dormant stem cells in blood and in most adult tissues that have pluripotent properties in vitro. These cells are the VSEL stem cells and the technology from NeoStem has the capabilities of separating VSEL cells from the rest of the tissue.
DeletePosted by Poya Jafari (2)
I sure hope this is the first step into more procedures and use of stem cells because they have such beneficial aspects to humans and can really help the future and generations to come. I understand how it may be controversial to use fetal stem cells, so hopefully this new discovery can lead to more stem cell research and use.
ReplyDeleteGabrielle Wertheim (3)
I really liked the article!I'm just wondering how and where they would do it. I don't think extraction of the patient's stem cells would be done in the dental office. The patient should be sent out to a medical lab which means more money to pay. Also, how long before the dental implant surgery does the patient need to get his stem cells extracted?
ReplyDeleteSetareh Sepasi (3)
It always amazes me to see what stem cells can do to help the body. And what is more amazing is there is a way to extract them from an adult, and can use their own stem cells for recovery! Great article.
ReplyDelete