Organized tooth-specific cellular differentiation stimulated by BMP4.
Mammalian teeth develop on the oral surface of the first pharyngeal arch by a series of reciprocal interactions between epithelial and mesenchymal cells. The embryonic first pharyngeal arch oral epithelium is able to induce tooth formation when combined with mesenchymal cells from the second pharyngeal arch, a region devoid of tooth development. Second pharyngeal arch mesenchyme is thus competent to form teeth if provided with the correct signals. First-arch oral epithelium expresses several signaling molecules that could be potential inducers of tooth development, including BMP4. The addition of BMP4 to intact second-arch explants resulted in the development of organized structures containing layers of cells that express marker genes of tooth-specific cells, odontoblasts and ameloblasts. Thus, although overt tooth development did not occur, BMP4 has the ability to stimulate organized differentiation of epithelial- and mesenchymal-derived dental-specific cells from non-dental primordia.
Department of Craniofacial Development, Dental Institute, Kings College London, Floor 28 Guy's Hospital, London Bridge, London SE1 9RT, UK.
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Ohazama
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Tucker
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Sharpe
D000565:Ameloblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D001934:Branchial Region / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D014070:Tooth / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology
C525810:Bmp4 protein, mouse; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins