Células-tronco e regeneração periodontal: tronco e regeneração periodontal

Abstract

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease which manifest clinically as loss of supporting periodontal tissues including alveolar bone, cementum and periodontal ligament. One of the goals of periodontal treatment is promoting tissue regeneration in attempt to repair the damage which occurs during periodontitis. Therapies directed towards this goal have included the use of a range of procedures like bone grafts, growing factors, enamel matrix derivative and guided tissue regeneration. The Stem Cells are undifferentiated cells that are able to proliferate, self renovate and convert themselves into specialized cell lines capable of regenerating tissues and organs. There are two major categories of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells, the later being divided in hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells. Recent reports have demonstrated that populations of adult stem cells reside in the periodontal ligament of humans. Advances of researches on stem cells and bioengineering open chances for the development of new therapies towards a definitive success for the regeneration of the periodontal tissue.