title: Role of Wnt signaling in the biology of the periodontium.
abstract: Continuously erupting teeth have associated with them a continuously regenerating periodontal ligament, but the factors that control this amazing regenerative potential are unknown. We used genetic strategies to show that the periodontal ligament arises from the cranial neural crest. Despite their histological similarity, the periodontal ligament of continuously erupting incisor teeth differs dramatically from the periodontal ligament of molar teeth. The most notable difference was in the distribution of Wnt responsive cells in the incisor periodontal ligament, which coincided with regions of periodontal ligament cell proliferation. We discuss these findings in the context of dental tissue regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rooker
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jill A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Helms
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007180:Incisor / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008963:Molar / Q000502:physiology*; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000502:physiology*; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D051153:Wnt Proteins; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase