title: Disruption of Smad4 in odontoblasts and dental epithelial cells influences the phenotype of multiple keratocystic odontogenic tumors.
abstract: Keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs) are cystic epithelial neoplasms with a high recurrence rate. The molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of KCOTs are still largely unknown. Previous research showed that specific ablation of Smad4 in odontoblasts and dental epithelia resulted in spontaneous KCOTs in mice, and that constitutively activated Hedgehog (Hh) signaling was detected in the cyst epithelia of both Smad4(Co/Co) OC-Cre and Smad4(Co/Co) K5-Cre mice. Here, we ablated Smad4 in mouse odontoblasts and dental epithelia and compared the sizes and numbers of KCOTs. Both the number and size of KCOTs in Smad4(Co/Co) OC-Cre mice were larger than those in Smad4(Co/Co) K5-Cre mice, suggesting that paracrine signals from root odontoblasts play a more important role than those from Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS) cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, 22 South Zhongguancun Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Genetic Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Avenue, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, PR China; Department of The Third Dental Center, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, 10 East Huayuan Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, PR China.
authors.forename: Weipeng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Genetic Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Avenue, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, PR China. Electronic address: yogopop33@163.com.
authors.forename: Guan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Central Laboratory, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, 22 South Zhongguancun Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, PR China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Genetic Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Avenue, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, 22 South Zhongguancun Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, PR China. Electronic address: litiejun22vip@sina.com.
authors.forename: Tiejun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D051901:Smad4 Protein / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D051901:Smad4 Protein
keywords: Hh signaling pathway; Keratocystic odontogenic tumors; Knockout mouse; Smad4