Odontoblast differentiation and the formation of the odontoblast layer.
Origin, cell kinetics, and phenotypic aspects of odontoblast cell lineage are described. Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions regulate odontoblast differentiation. These interactions appear to be mediated by the extracellular matrix. Possible molecular mechanisms of cell-matrix interactions are discussed. Questions still unanswered are recommended for investigation.
D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003771:Dental Papilla / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000196:embryology; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007700:Kinetics; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype