Drug that makes teeth grow naturally has a date for human testing m4i4m

In Brazil, 14 million citizens suffer from missing teeth, not to mention another 34 million Brazilian adults who have already lost 13 or more teeth throughout their lives. Thanks to a drug that makes teeth grow, this scenario can positively change oral health, consequently improving quality of life, and can revolutionize the way that people dental treatments will be made and destined. m2y2y

The medicine that makes teeth grow has already been successfully tested on ferrets and rats — which have a dental pattern very similar to that of humans — and is now heading towards human testing, with testing scheduled to begin in September this year. Learn more about the revolutionary research in the following article.

How the USAG-1 antibody works c592v

Throughout the maturity and development phase of the human body, teeth They only grow on two occasions: when we begin to generate baby teeth in childhood and when we develop permanent teeth, which replace baby teeth and accompany us for the rest of our lives.

Although they have very similar elements in their composition and resistance, bones They differ from teeth due to their regenerative power. While bones are able to regrow after they break, teeth are not so luckyWith the edentulism (missing teeth) directly affecting the lives of those affected by this condition, with possible substitutes that may not adapt naturally to the mouth — such as dentures — or that are expensive, such as dental implants.

What limits the development of new teeth is an antibody called USAG-1, or gene-1 associated with uterine sensitization, which inhibits the growth of new teeth. It interacts directly with molecules BMP (bone morphogenetic protein), responsible for the formation, growth and regeneration of bones, cartilage and tissues, stopping the development of new teeth after the growth of permanent teeth.

We all have what dentists and specialists call tooth bud. Even with the arch formed with 32 teeth in adulthood, the human body still produces the beginnings of new buds (shoots) with great potential to become teeth. Over time, these same buttons end up not developing and disappear. Japanese research aims to encourage the creation of new buds in individuals who do not have teeth through USAG-1 suppression, making it accessible for the maturation and morphological formation of new teeth.

The team of scientists from Medical Research Institute Kitano Hospital, in Osaka, Japan, under the command of the senior professor and head of research Katsu Takahashi, specialist in tooth regeneration since 2005, developed a monoclonal antibody which inhibits the action of USAG-1, allowing BMP to act on the development of new teeth.

The use of monoclonal antibodies It is not new in the field of science, especially in the therapeutic field due to its precision, effectiveness, low or non-existent adverse effects and its safety. You monoclonal antibodies are medicines introduced into the patient's bloodstream and are obtained by cloning B lymphocytes present in the blood, which in turn are responsible for producing antibodies capable of fighting viruses, bacteria and toxins. This medicine is commonly used in autoimmune and infectious disease treatmentsLike rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis and even some types of cancer.

As a result of research on rodents, the USAG-1 monoclonal antibody managed to paralyze the effect of the molecule and allowed the growth of supernumerary teeth — that is, beyond those predicted by the natural teething process.

Animal testing completed 1z6b4h

With the creation of the antibody USAG-1, which prevented its activity and its connection with the BMP molecule, which animal testing period was started in July 2023. They were chosen mice e ferrets for being diphyodonts (baby teeth that are later replaced by permanent teeth) and represent 97% similarity in the way USAG-1 acts in humans.

At the time, scientists genetically modified the animals so that they had tooth agenesis for testing. In the research, the drug that makes teeth grow was injected intravenously into guinea pigs. A single systematic dose of the antibody was more than enough to generate a whole tooth and promote the development of new teeth.

Even in cases of normal dentition — an arch made up of 32 teeth — the cancellation of the USAG-1 generates the development of supernumerary teeth in the upper incisor, lower incisor and/or molar regions, that is, in greater numbers than expected in the development of the adult organism.

Therefore, the action of the antibody would solve the problems of loss of teeth in broad scenarios, developing them from scratch within its morphological structure, rescuing all the teeth that were once lost and/or removed. However, the observed effect is dose dependent and a natural repetitive event was not observed after application.

Start of human testing already has a date 6u3g1e

The success of the results with ferrets and mice allowed the tests to evolve towards a new medicine that will make teeth grow. Within the goals defined by Katsu Takahashi's team, the beginning of human testing will take place in the period between September 2024 to August 2025, with volunteers 30 men aged between 30 the 64 years. The start of the clinical trial is scheduled for next month.

Katsu Takahashi states that, once the medicine reaches the expected parameters, it should only be ready and available for use from 2030. Even with an 11-month study period, the team of scientists at the Medical Research Institute Kitano Hospital intends to expand the field of research with children between 2 and 7 years old that they don't have teeth due to congenital problems, using the drug as a treatment for anatodontics.

Conclusion 60664y

At an accelerated pace of research, the drug that makes teeth grow took an important step towards a very promising future in relation to oral health. Even with completion expectations 6 years ahead, the medicine will allow the 1% of the world population that suffers from some type of dental anomaly can improve the quality of life, not only to chewing, but also to self-acceptance and self-esteem.

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Source: EPOCA, This is, BioedTech, Science, Popular Mechanics, Japan Times, Butantan

reviewed by Glaucon Vital in 13 / 6 / 24.