The best new implant system may have arrived!
Scientists at Japan’s Kyoto University and the University of Fukui developed a monoclonal antibody treatment that seems to trigger the body to grow new teeth, according to research published last month in the journal Science Advances.
The team reports that an antibody for one gene – uterine sensitization associated gene-1 or USAG-1, can stimulate tooth growth in mice suffering from tooth agenesis, a congenital condition.
By blocking a gene called USAG-1 led to increased activity of Bone Morphogenic Protein (BMP). *Refreshed: BMP determines how many teeth will grow in the first place.
The morphogenesis of individual teeth depends on the interactions of several molecules including BMP and Wnt signaling.
BMP and Wnt are involved in much more than tooth development. They modulate the growth of multiple organs and tissues well before the human body is even the size of a raisin. Consequently, drugs that directly affect their activity are commonly avoided, since side effects could affect the entire body.
The scientists therefore investigated the effects of several monoclonal antibodies for USAG-1. Monoclonal antibodies are commonly used to treat cancers, arthritis, and vaccine development.
USAG-1 interacts with both BMP and Wnt. As a result, several of the antibodies led to poor birth and survival rates of the mice, affirming the importance of both BMP and Wnt on whole body growth. One promising antibody, however, disrupted the interaction of USAG-1 with BMP only.
Experiments with this antibody revealed that BMP signaling is essential for determining the number of teeth in mice. Moreover, a single administration was enough to generate a whole tooth.
The experiment also worked on ferrets, which is important because their teeth are far more humanlike than mouse teeth are.
Although, the road from the lab bench to the clinic is a long one, this treatment could be the best new “implant” system anyone could want.