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Bone remodeling depends on the precise coordination of bone resorption and subsequent bone formation. Disturbances of this process are associated with skeletal diseases, such as Camurati-Engelmann disease (CED). We show using in vitro and in vivo models that active TGF-[beta]1 released during bone resorption coordinates bone formation by inducing migration of bone marrow stromal cells, also known as bone mesenchymal stem cells, to the bone resorptive sites and that this process is mediated through a SMAD signaling pathway. Analyzing mice carrying a CED-derived mutant TGFB1 (encoding TGF-[beta]1), which show the typical progressive diaphyseal dysplasia seen in the human disease, we found high levels of active TGF-[beta]1 in the bone marrow. Treatment with a TGF-[beta] type I receptor inhibitor partially rescued the uncoupled bone remodeling and prevented the fractures. Thus, as TGF-[beta]1 functions to couple bone resorption and formation, modulation of TGF-[beta]1 activity could be an effective treatment for bone remodeling diseases., In the adult skeleton, bone is continuously being formed and resorbed, not only to maintain mineral homeostasis but also to cope with the microfractures that occur as a consequence of [...]

To isolate high-quality human postnatal stem cells from accessible resources is an important goal for stem-cell research. In this study we found that exfoliated human deciduous tooth contains multi-potent stem cells [stem, cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED)]. SHED were identified to be a population of highly proliferative, clonogenic cells capable of differentiating into a variety of cell types including neural cells, adipocytes, and odontoblasts. After in vivo transplantation, SHED were found to be able to induce bone formation, generate dentin, and survive in mouse brain along with expression of neural markers. Here we show that a naturally exfoliated human organ contains a population of stem cells that are completely different from previously identified stem cells. SHED are not only derived from a very accessible tissue resource but are also capable of providing enough cells for potential clinical application. Thus, exfoliated teeth may be an unexpected unique resource for stem-cell therapies including autologous stem-cell transplantation and tissue engineering. odontoblast | bone regeneration | neural differentiation | adipocyte | dental pulp stern cell

A published research presents a technique for guiding a body's stem cell to tooth regeneration. The researchers show how the tooth can be grown in the socket where it can integrate with surrounding tissues through the use of a three-dimensional scaffold of the tooth.

Jan 8 A new drug combination that releases high levels of two types of stem cells--those that regenerate bone and repair blood vessels--from mouse bone marrow, might eventually lead to [...]