There are a couple of unique characteristics that differentiate stem cells from other cells. The National Institute of Health says that there are two characteristics that make stem cells unique. The first is that stem cells are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, sometimes after long periods of inactivity. Second, under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions.
Products made from Stem Cells
Not all anti-aging products contain stem cells, so it is important to check the label. Anti-aging products that contain stem cells include:
Dental Stem Cells are not recognized
There are three types of stem cells in mammals recognized, according to the National Institutes of Health. They are:
- embryonic stem cells, which can be taken from the umbilical cord after birth
- autologous adult stem cells, which are from bone marrow, lipid cells and blood
- pluripotent stem cells, which are adult cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell–like state by being forced to express genes and factors important for maintaining the defining properties of embryonic stem cells.
There may actually be a fourth type of stem cell. Dental stem cells, which can be used to replace lost bone around teeth, periodontal ligament or dental pulp and treat periodontal disease. The National Institutes of Health does not recognize dental stem cells.
Attention given to the deciduous dental pulp-derived stem cell
The Department of Pathology at Nihon University at the School of Dentistry in Tokyo has turned their attention toward two types of stem cells that are of particular interest for prospective applications in bone repair: the dedifferentiated fat cell, and the deciduous dental pulp-derived stem cell. Japan seems to be doing more research on dental stem cells than any other country. In the Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Oral Anatomy at the Graduate School of Dental Science, Kyushu University has found data that suggests that cryopreservation of dental pulp tissues of deciduous teeth provide a suitable and desirable approach for stem cell-based immune therapy and tissue engineering in regenerative medicine.
Mesenchymal stem cells are located in dental tissues
The Dental School at the Federal University of Goiás in Brazil has also done research on dental stem cells and they found that Mesenchymal stem cells were demonstrated in dental tissues, including dental pulp, periodontal ligament, dental papilla, and dental follicle. These stem cells can be isolated and grown under defined tissue culture conditions, and are potential cells for use in tissue engineering, including, dental tissue, nerves and bone regeneration.
Postnatal stem cells, which are capable of self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation into multiple specialized cell lineages have been isolated and identified within the dental pulp, apical papilla and periodontal ligament, states the Sir John Walsh Research Institute at the School of Dentistry at the University of Otago in New Zealand.
Dental stem cells maybe used to replace lost bone around teeth
It seems that dental stem cells have been found to be just as popular as the more recognized stem cells. Temple University in Pennsylvania believes that ongoing research suggests that these stem cells will soon be used for dental purposes such as to replace lost bone around teeth, periodontal ligament or dental pulp; treat periodontal disease; and someday even produce new teeth, as well as for medical applications.
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