Human Dental Stem Cells Can Be Transformed into Excitable Neuronal Cells for Neurodegenerative Disease Treatment.

Researchers at the University of the Basque Country have successfully transformed human dental stem cells into excitable neuronal cells, opening up new avenues for the study of neurodegenerative diseases and the development of future autologous transplants. The study, published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy, highlights the potential of these easily accessible cells for nerve tissue engineering. The differentiated cells are capable of synthesizing inhibitory neurotransmitters, such as GABA, and have electrophysiological activity similar to neurons. This breakthrough could lead to advances in cell therapy for treating neurodegenerative diseases.