| abstract |
The present invention provides autologous oral grafts that may be used, for example, to treat oral cavity disease characterized by inflamed or damaged oral mucosa tissue, or to treat oral caries characterized by damaged enamel, dentin, or cementum. In certain embodiments, the autologous oral grafts comprise a biocompatible matrix and cultured oral cells (e.g., keratinocytes) from the patient to be treated. In certain embodiments, the cultured oral cells comprise an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a therapeutic polypeptide configured to at least partially reduce the patient's oral mucosa tissue inflammation or damage. In particular embodiments, the oral disease is characterized by infiltration of the oral mucosa with activated, maturing dendritic cells. |