Why does the progression of tooth decay slow down as we get older?A research group led by Assistant Professor Jiro Miura of Osaka University Dental Hospital found that AGE, a substance involved in aging, affects the progression of dentin caries by capturing AGE (glycation end product) in dentin by fluorescence. Revealed for the first time in the world.
Until now, it has been known that AGE accumulates in tissues in cardiovascular diseases such as tissue aging and diabetes.The research group has already shown that with aging, teeth also glycate and AGE accumulates in dentin, making the collagen protein in the teeth harder.However, in collagen fibers existing inside calcified tissues such as dentin, the sample is hard, and it is extremely difficult to investigate the detailed localization of AGE due to the problem of processing and detection method.
This time, the research group applied a method called immunoelectron microscopy using an electron microscope and a method called fluorescence lifetime measurement method for fluorescent AGE, and glycation progressed due to dental caries (called caries) and AGE accumulated. confirm.Furthermore, it was discovered that the accumulation of AGE in dentin with aging increases the acid resistance and enzyme resistance of dentin and suppresses the progression of dental caries.It was also found that the caries region can be specifically selected by utilizing the fluorescence characteristics of a specific AGE.This fusion of dentistry and engineering has revealed for the first time the relationship between saccharification and dental caries.
It is said that this achievement will greatly contribute to the elucidation of the mechanism of progression of chronic caries related to AGE and the development of new dental caries detection methods and treatment methods in dental clinics.Furthermore, since glycation progresses and fluorescent AGE accumulates in all tissues due to aging and hyperglycemia, it can be applied to a method for evaluating systemic diseases.
