title: Reporter Mice Used for Dentinogenesis Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dentinogenesis is a long and complex process not only in tooth development, but also throughout the lifespan. Reporter mice provided us a preferred model to study the dentin formation with characteristics of high sensitivity, visualization, and reliability, which makes the long-term and intricate period of dentinogenesis much clear. With the advent of different gene reporters, genetic engineering methods, and tissue specific promoters, various reporter mice can be created to solve different problems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To understand the fundamental concepts and characteristics to use the reporter mice for dentinogenesis study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This review introduced the frequently used gene-based reporters, genetic engineering technologies, dentinogenesis-related promoters and the reporter mice commonly used in the dentin study, with the purpose of obtaining a better application of reporter mice and gaining more details about dentinogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reporter mice is a convenient and reliable model for studying dentinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Fanyuan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Fanzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Dian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Chenglin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003810:Dentinogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D014070:Tooth / Q000254:growth & development*
keywords: Cre-LoxP system; Reporter; conditional knock out; dentinogenesis; epigenetics; progenitor cells; promoters