Antibody for USAG-1 shown to stimulate tooth growth
Tooth loss is a widespread problem in adults and results in poor quality of life. Currently, solutions to this problem include artificial teeth and implants. But these aren’t as good as “real teeth,” and they don’t markedly improve quality of life. Now, scientists from Japan have made a discovery that can make re-growing teeth possible. They found, with animal studies, that suppressing the gene USAG-1 by using its antibody can efficiently lead to tooth growth.
One molecule increases the number of teeth
In mice deficient in USAG-1, an antagonist of BMP, the trace deciduous incisors survive and erupt as excess teeth!
Photo courtesy: Dr.Katsu Takahashi
The tooth fairy is a welcome guest for any child who has lost a tooth. Not only will the fairy leave a small gift under the pillow, but the child can be assured of a new tooth in a few months. The same cannot be said of adults who have lost their teeth.
A new study by scientists at Kyoto University and the University of Fukui, however, may offer some hope. 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. The paper was published in Science Advances.
Although the normal adult mouth has 32 teeth, about 1% of the population has more or fewer due to congenital conditions. Scientists have explored the genetic causes for cases having too many teeth as clues for regenerating teeth in adults.
According to Katsu Takahashi, one of the lead authors of the study and a senior lecturer at the Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, the fundamental molecules responsible for tooth development have already been identified.
“The morphogenesis of individual teeth depends on the interactions of several molecules including BMP, or bone morphogenetic protein, and Wnt signaling,” says Takahashi.
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.
Guessing that targeting the factors that antagonize BMP and Wnt specifically in tooth development could be safer, the team considered the gene USAG-1.
“We knew that suppressing USAG-1 benefits tooth growth. What we did not know was whether it would be enough,” adds Takahashi.
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. Subsequent experiments showed the same benefits in ferrets.
“Ferrets are diphyodont animals with similar dental patterns to humans. Our next plan is to test the antibodies on other animals such as pigs and dogs,” explains Takahashi.
The study is the first to show the benefits of monoclonal antibodies on tooth regeneration and provides a new therapeutic framework for a clinical problem that can currently only be resolved with implants and other artificial measures.
“Conventional tissue engineering is not suitable for tooth regeneration. Our study shows that cell-free molecular therapy is effective for a wide range of congenital tooth agenesis,” concludes Manabu Sugai of the University of Fukui, another author of the study.
Reference
Title of original paper: Anti–USAG-1 therapy for tooth regeneration through enhanced BMP signaling
Journal: Science Advances
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf1798
About Professor Manabu Sugai from University of Fukui, Japan
Sugai Manabu is a Professor in the Division of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui. His research interests are in the relationship between cell differentiation and proliferation, with a particular focus on various cells involved in immune reactions. He also covers organogenesis of organs derived from epithelial and mesenchymal interactions, publishing numerous papers on these topics. Sugai is part of numerous academic organizations, including the Japanese Biochemical Society, The Molecular Biology Society of Japan, and the Japanese Society for Immunology.
About Associate Professor Katsu Takahashi from Kyoto University, Japan
Katsu Takahashi is an Associate Professor at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. His research includes tooth regenerative, oral and maxillofacial development, and maxillofacial malformation, with over 100 publications on the topics. He is also part of numerous prestigious academic organizations, such as the Society for Regenerative Medicine, Stomatology, Dental Research, Jaw Deformity, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Funding
This study was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research [(C):25463081 and 17K118323], AMED under Grant Number JP17nk0101334 and JP 20ek0109397, and Kyoto University by the fourth GAP Fund and Incubation Program. This research was partially supported by the Platform Project for Supporting Drug Discovery and Life Science Research [Basis for Supporting Innovative Drug Discovery and Life Science Research (BINDS)] from AMED under Grant Number 19am0101075.
About the University of Fukui
The University of Fukui is a preeminent research institution with robust undergraduate and graduate schools focusing on education, medical and science, engineering, and global and community studies. The university conducts cutting-edge research and strives to nurture human resources capable of contributing to society on the local, national, and global level. For more information please see: https://www.u-fukui.ac.jp/eng/
About Kyoto University
Kyoto University is one of Japan and Asia’s premier research institutions, founded in 1897 and responsible for producing numerous Nobel laureates and winners of other prestigious international prizes. A broad curriculum across the arts and sciences at both undergraduate and graduate levels is complemented by numerous research centers, as well as facilities and offices around Japan and the world. For more information please see: http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en
