Method of producing tooth, set of teeth, and method of producing tissue

1. A method of producing a tooth, comprising:

positioning a first cell mass substantially containing only either one of mesenchymal cells or epithelial cells, wherein at least one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells is derived from a tooth germ, and a second cell mass substantially containing only the other one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells, inside a support carrier, such that the first and second cell masses are in a state of close contact with each other inside the support carrier without mixing between the cell masses, wherein the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells are in close contact with each other in the corresponding cell mass;

positioning the first cell mass inside the support carrier such that the second cell mass makes a depression in the first cell mass such that the first cell mass substantially envelops the second cell mass when the second cell mass is inserted into the support carrier; and

culturing the first and the second cell masses inside the support carrier until the tooth is formed, while maintaining the state of close contact between the cell masses.

2. The method of producing a tooth according to claim 1 , wherein both the mesenchymal cells and the epithelial cells are derived from a tooth germ.

3. The method of producing a tooth according to claim 1 , further comprising a first preparation process of preparing the first cell mass and a second preparation process of preparing the second cell mass prior to positioning the cell masses in contact with each other.

4. The method of producing a tooth according to claim 1 , comprising conducting growth inside the support carrier in the presence of other cells of animals.

5. The method of producing a tooth according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first cell mass and the second cell mass is a cell mass of single cells.

6. A method of producing a tooth with periodontal tissue comprising:

positioning a first cell mass substantially containing only either one of mesenchymal cells or epithelial cells, wherein at least one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells is derived from a tooth germ, and a second cell mass substantially containing only the other one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells, inside a support carrier, such that the first and the second cell masses are in a state of close contact with each other inside the support carrier without mixing between the cell masses, wherein the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells are in close contact with each other in the corresponding cell mass;

positioning the first cell mass inside the support carrier such that the second cell mass makes a depression in the first cell mass such that the first cell mass substantially envelops the second cell mass when the second cell mass is inserted into the support carrier;

culturing the first and the second cell masses inside the support carrier until the tooth is formed, while maintaining the state of close contact between the cell masses; and

continuing the culturing until the periodontal tissue is formed.

7. A method of producing periodontal tissue, comprising:

positioning a first cell mass substantially containing only either one of mesenchymal cells or epithelial cells, wherein at least one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells is derived from a tooth germ, and a second cell mass substantially containing only the other one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells, inside a support carrier, such that the first and second cell masses are in a state of close contact with each other inside the support carrier without mixing between the cell masses, wherein the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells are in close contact with each other in the corresponding cell mass;

positioning the first cell mass inside the support carrier such that the second cell mass makes a depression in the first cell mass such that the first cell mass substantially envelops the second cell mass when the second cell mass is inserted into the support carrier;

culturing the first and the second cell masses inside the support carrier until a tooth and periodontal tissue contiguous to the tooth are obtained, while maintaining the state of close contact between the cell masses; and

isolating the periodontal tissue obtained by the culturing.

8. A set of teeth, obtained by

positioning a first cell mass substantially containing only either one of mesenchymal cells or epithelial cells, wherein at least one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells is derived from a tooth germ, and a second cell mass substantially containing only the other one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells, inside a support carrier, such that the first and the second cell masses are in a state of close contact with each other inside the support carrier without mixing between the cell masses, wherein the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells are in close contact with each other in the corresponding cell mass;

positioning the first cell mass inside the support carrier such that the second cell mass makes a depression in the first cell mass such that the first cell mass substantially envelops the second cell mass when the second cell mass is inserted into the support carrier; and

culturing the first and the second cell masses inside the support carrier until the set of teeth is formed, while maintaining the state of close contact between the cell masses.

9. The set of teeth according to claim 8 , wherein both the mesenchymal cells and the epithelial cells are derived from a tooth germ.

10. A method of producing a tissue that is constructed by an interaction between mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells, the method comprising:

positioning a first cell mass substantially containing only either one of mesenchymal cells or epithelial cells and a second cell mass substantially containing only the other one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells, inside a support carrier, such that the first and the second cell masses are in a state of close contact with each other inside the support carrier without mixing between the cell masses, wherein the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells are in close contact with each other in the corresponding cell mass;

positioning the first cell mass inside the support carrier such that the second cell mass makes a depression in the first cell mass such that the first cell mass substantially envelops the second cell mass when the second cell mass is inserted into the support carrier; and

culturing the first and the second cell masses inside the support carrier until the tissue is formed, while maintaining the state of close contact between the cell masses.

11. The method of producing a tissue according to claim 10 , further comprising a first preparation process of preparing the first cell mass and a second preparation process of preparing the second cell mass prior to positioning the cell masses in contact with each other.

12. The method of producing a tissue according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of the mesenchymal cells and the epithelial cells is derived from a targeted tissue.

13. The method of producing a tissue according to claim 12 , wherein the targeted tissue is selected from the group consisting of a tooth, a hair, a kidney, a lung and a liver.

14. A method of treatment for tooth loss or damage, comprising:

transplanting at least one tooth selected from (i) a tooth obtained by the method of producing a tooth according to claim 1 , and (ii) a tooth with periodontal tissue produced at the site of tooth loss or damage by the method of:

(a) positioning a first cell mass substantially containing only either one of mesenchymal cells or epithelial cells, wherein at least one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells is derived from a tooth germ, and a second cell mass substantially containing only the other one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells, inside a support carrier and in contact with each other; and

(b) culturing the first and the second cell masses inside the support carrier until a tooth and periodontal tissue contiguous to the tooth are obtained.

15. A method of treatment for tooth loss or damage, comprising:

transplanting at least one tooth selected from (i) a tooth obtained by the method of producing a tooth according to claim 2 , and (ii) a tooth with periodontal tissue produced at the site of tooth loss or damage by the method of:

(a) positioning a first cell mass substantially containing only either one of mesenchymal cells or epithelial cells, wherein at least one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells is derived from a tooth germ, and a second cell mass substantially containing only the other one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells, inside a support carrier and in contact with each other; and

(b) culturing the first and the second cell masses inside the support carrier until a tooth and periodontal tissue contiguous to the tooth are obtained.

16. A method of treatment for tooth loss or damage, comprising:

transplanting at least one tooth selected from (i) a tooth obtained by the method of producing a tooth according to claim 3 , and (ii) a tooth with periodontal tissue produced at the site of tooth loss or damage by the method of:

(a) positioning a first cell mass substantially containing only either one of mesenchymal cells or epithelial cells, wherein at least one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells is derived from a tooth germ, and a second cell mass substantially containing only the other one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells, inside a support carrier and in contact with each other; and

(b) culturing the first and the second cell masses inside the support carrier until a tooth and periodontal tissue contiguous to the tooth are obtained.

17. A method of treatment for tooth loss or damage, comprising:

transplanting at least one tooth selected from (i) a tooth obtained by the method of producing a tooth according to claim 4 , and (ii) a tooth with periodontal tissue produced at the site of tooth loss or damage by the method of:

(a) positioning a first cell mass substantially containing only either one of mesenchymal cells or epithelial cells, wherein at least one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells is derived from a tooth germ, and a second cell mass substantially containing only the other one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells, inside a support carrier and in contact with each other; and

(b) culturing the first and the second cell masses inside the support carrier until a tooth and periodontal tissue contiguous to the tooth are obtained.

18. A method of treatment for tooth loss or damage, comprising:

transplanting at least one tooth selected from (i) a tooth obtained by the method of producing a tooth according to claim 5 , and (ii) a tooth with periodontal tissue produced at the site of tooth loss or damage by the method of:

(a) positioning a first cell mass substantially containing only either one of mesenchymal cells or epithelial cells, wherein at least one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells is derived from a tooth germ, and a second cell mass substantially containing only the other one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells, inside a support carrier and in contact with each other; and

(b) culturing the first and the second cell masses inside the support carrier until a tooth and periodontal tissue contiguous to the tooth are obtained.

19. A method of treatment for tooth loss or damage, comprising:

transplanting at least one tooth selected from (i) a tooth obtained by the method of producing a tooth according to claim 6 , and (ii) a tooth with periodontal tissue produced at the site of tooth loss or damage by the method of:

(a) positioning a first cell mass substantially containing only either one of mesenchymal cells or epithelial cells, wherein at least one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells is derived from a tooth germ, and a second cell mass substantially containing only the other one of the mesenchymal cells or the epithelial cells, inside a support carrier and in contact with each other; and

(b) culturing the first and the second cell masses inside the support carrier until a tooth and periodontal tissue contiguous to the tooth are obtained.

20. The method of producing a tooth with periodontal tissue according to claim 6 , wherein both the mesenchymal cells and the epithelial cells are derived from a tooth germ.

21. The method of producing a tooth with periodontal tissue according to claim 6 , further comprising a first preparation process of preparing the first cell mass and a second preparation process of preparing the second cell mass prior to positioning the cell masses in contact with each other.

22. The method of producing a tooth with periodontal tissue according to claim 6 , comprising conducting growth inside the support carrier in the presence of other cells of animals.

23. The method of producing a tooth with periodontal tissue according to claim 6 , wherein each of the first cell mass and the second cell mass is a cell mass of single cells.