title: Stage-specific expression of decapentaplegic-Vg-related genes 2, 4, and 6 (bone morphogenetic proteins 2, 4, and 6) during human tooth morphogenesis.
abstract: Members of the decapentaplegic-Vg-related (DVR) gene family are diffusible signaling molecules regulating inductive tissue interactions during vertebrate development. Expression of DVR/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 2, 4, and 6 was studied in human fetal teeth. Sequential morphogenetic stage-specific studies of DVR/BMP 2 and 4 mRNA expression by in situ hybridization revealed transcripts for DVR/BMP 4 during compaction of the dental mesenchyme. In contrast, DVR/BMP 2 mRNA appeared later during tooth development and was located in differentiated cells (odontoblasts). These results were confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which detected DVR/BMP 2 and 4 mRNA in human tooth-germ samples. DVR/BMP 6 protein was distributed in the early dental epithelium and, later, in pre-odontoblasts and odontoblasts, where it remained during dentin formation. These results suggest that DVR/BMP 4 is involved in the early tooth morphogenesis. DVR/BMP 6 may, in particular, be implicated in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions controlling cytodifferentiation. DVR/BMP 2 and 6 may also be involved in odontoblast secretory function. The results suggest that members of the DVR gene family may play regulatory roles during human tooth development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heikinheimo
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D017931:DNA Primers; D003810:Dentinogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D005865:Gestational Age; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000737:chemistry; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals / Q000032:analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014083:Tooth Germ / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D011506:Proteins; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger