title: Regulatory roles of microRNAs in human dental tissues.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, non-coding RNAs that provide an efficient pathway for regulation of gene expression at a post-transcriptional level. Tooth development is regulated by a complex network of cell-cell signaling during all steps of organogenesis. Most of the congenital dental defects in humans are caused by mutations in genes involved in developmental regulatory networks. Whereas the developmental morphological stages of the tooth development already are thoroughly documented, the implicated genetic network is still under investigation. The involvement of miRNAs in the regulation of tooth genetic network was suggested for the first time in 2008. MiRNAs regulate tooth morphogenesis by fine-tuning the signaling networks. Unique groups of miRNAs are expressed in dental epithelium compared with mesenchyme, as well as in molars compared with incisors. The present review focuses on the current state of knowledge on the expression and function of miRNAs in human dental tissues, including teeth and the surrounding structures. Herein, we show that miRNAs exhibit specific roles in human dental tissues and are involved in gingival and periodontal disease, tooth movement and eruption, dental pulp physiology including repair and regeneration, differentiation of dental cells, and enamel mineralization. In light of similarities between the tooth development and other organs originating from the epithelium, further understanding of miRNAs` function in dental tissues may have wide biological relevance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: amer.sehic@odont.uio.no.
authors.forename: Amer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sehic
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Banjaluka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Amela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tulek
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Cuong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Khuu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Minou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nirvani
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Lars Peter
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Sand
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Tor Paaske
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Utheim
mesh_terms: D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000235:genetics; D014070:Tooth / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D014078:Tooth Eruption / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Dental cells; Gene expression; Non-coding RNAs; Odontogenesis; Periodontal ligament; Tooth development