title: Sox2+ stem cells contribute to all epithelial lineages of the tooth via Sfrp5+ progenitors.
abstract: The continuously growing mouse incisor serves as a valuable model to study stem cell regulation during organ renewal. Epithelial stem cells are localized in the proximal end of the incisor in the labial cervical loop. Here, we show that the transcription factor Sox2 is a specific marker for these stem cells. Sox2+ cells became restricted to the labial cervical loop during tooth morphogenesis, and they contributed to the renewal of enamel-producing ameloblasts as well as all other epithelial cell lineages of the tooth. The early progeny of Sox2-positive stem cells transiently expressed the Wnt inhibitor Sfrp5. Sox2 expression was regulated by the tooth initiation marker FGF8 and specific miRNAs, suggesting a fine-tuning to maintain homeostasis of the dental epithelium. The identification of Sox2 as a marker for the dental epithelial stem cells will facilitate further studies on their lineage segregation and differentiation during tooth renewal.
authors: Developmental Biology Program, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Emma
authors: E
authors: Juuri
authors: Kan
authors: K
authors: Saito
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Ahtiainen
authors: Kerstin
authors: K
authors: Seidel
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Tummers
authors: Konrad
authors: K
authors: Hochedlinger
authors: Ophir D
authors: OD
authors: Klein
authors: Irma
authors: I
authors: Thesleff
authors: Frederic
authors: F
authors: Michon
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051524:Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014070:Tooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D000094742:Secreted Frizzled-Related Proteins
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D015415:Biomarkers; D051524:Fibroblast Growth Factor 8; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; C496457:Fgf8 protein, mouse; C487972:Sfrp5 protein, mouse; D000094742:Secreted Frizzled-Related Proteins; C527783:Sox2 protein, mouse