Bad breath could fuel stem cell development

The compound that causes bad breath could help fuel the development of stem cells from dental pulp, according to a study.

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) – which has the characteristic smell of rotten eggs – appears to help teeth stem cells transform into liver cells, which could prove a valuable treatment for patients, researchers found.

H2S is a major cause of halitosis, or bad breath, which is of concern to millions of people worldwide.

A team of experts took stem cells from dental pulp – the central part of the tooth made up of connective tissue and cells – obtained from the teeth of dental patients undergoing routine tooth extractions.

The cells were separated into two groups, with one group incubated in an H2S chamber and the other group acting as a control. The cells were then analysed after three, six and nine days to see if they had transformed into liver cells.

Their ability to function as liver cells was also tested, including the ability to store glycogen and collect urea.

The study, published in the Journal of Breath Research, from the Institute of Physics, suggested liver cells could be produced in high numbers of high purity.

Dr Ken Yaegaki, from Nippon Dental University in Japan, was lead author of the study.