beta-Catenin initiates tooth neogenesis in adult rodent incisors.
beta-Catenin signaling is required for embryonic tooth morphogenesis and promotes continuous tooth development when activated in embryos. To determine whether activation of this pathway in the adult oral cavity could promote tooth development, we induced mutation of epithelial beta-catenin to a stabilized form in adult mice. This caused increased proliferation of the incisor tooth cervical loop, outpouching of incisor epithelium, abnormal morphology of the epithelial-mesenchymal junction, and enhanced expression of genes associated with embryonic tooth development. Ectopic dental-like structures were formed from the incisor region following implantation into immunodeficient mice. Thus, forced activation of beta-catenin signaling can initiate an embryonic-like program of tooth development in adult rodent incisor teeth.
Liu
F
F
Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, M8D Stellar-Chance Laboratories, 422 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6100, USA.
Dangaria
S
S
Andl
T
T
Zhang
Y
Y
Wright
A C
AC
Damek-Poprawa
M
M
Piccolo
S
S
Nagy
A
A
Taketo
M M
MM
Diekwisch
T G H
TG
Akintoye
S O
SO
Millar
S E
SE
D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D003771:Dental Papilla / Q000166:cytology*; D004658:Enamel Organ / Q000166:cytology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D051524:Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007180:Incisor / Q000166:cytology; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014074:Tooth Calcification; D015854:Up-Regulation; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000502:physiology*
C496457:Fgf8 protein, mouse; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D051176:beta Catenin; D051524:Fibroblast Growth Factor 8