Making a tooth: growth factors, transcription factors, and stem cells.
Mammalian tooth development is largely dependent on sequential and reciprocal epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. These processes involve a series of inductive and permissive interactions that result in the determination, differentiation, and organization of odontogenic tissues. Multiple signaling molecules, including BMPs, FGFs, Shh, and Wnt proteins, have been implicated in mediating these tissue interactions. Transcription factors participate in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions via linking the signaling loops between tissue layers by responding to inductive signals and regulating the expression of other signaling molecules. Adult stem cells are highly plastic and multipotent. These cells including dental pulp stem cells and bone marrow stromal cells could be reprogrammed into odontogenic fate and participated in tooth formation. Recent progress in the studies of molecular basis of tooth development, adult stem cell biology, and regeneration will provide fundamental knowledge for the realization of human tooth regeneration in the near future.
Zhang
Yan Ding
YD
College of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
Chen
Zhi
Z
Song
Yi Qiang
YQ
Liu
Chao
C
Chen
Yi Ping
YP
D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000502:physiology; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D014070:Tooth / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors