小鼠牙齿发育中Pax-9的表达及意义

目的 通过观察PAX-9在牙发育中的分布及变化规律，探索牙齿发生的机制。方法 标本为妊娠10．5～18．5天昆明小鼠分别取胎鼠，分别作HE染色和免疫组化染色，图像分析仪分析。结果 Pax-9表达于胞浆中。蕾状期，牙蕾上皮及间充质细胞不表达Pax-9；帽状期牙乳头细胞表达较强；钟状期早期成牙本质细胞或前成牙本质细胞表达强阳性，内釉上皮细胞、星网状层细胞及牙乳头细胞有微弱表达；钟状期晚期成牙本质细胞、成釉细胞、及釉牙本质界处集中表达，新形成的釉质和前期牙本质染色较强。结论 PAX-9促进牙胚从蕾状期向帽状期转变，调节钟状期成牙本质细胞及成釉细胞的分化及基质分泌，并参与生物矿化过程。     

牙本质涎磷蛋白、Ⅰ型胶原蛋白在vps4b基因 敲除鼠磨牙牙胚发育中的时空表达

目的 研究vps4b基因突变对牙齿发育相关蛋白——牙本质涎磷蛋白（DSPP）和Ⅰ型胶原蛋白（COL-Ⅰ）表达的影响。方法 取胚胎E13.5 d、E14.5 d、E16.5 d的胎鼠头部及出生后P2.5 d、P7 d的幼鼠下颌骨组织,石蜡包埋后获取第一磨牙牙胚组织切片,采用免疫组织化学染色法检测野生型小鼠和vps4b基因敲除小鼠牙胚中DSPP、COL-Ⅰ的表达。结果 野生鼠蕾状期和帽状期DSPP、COL-Ⅰ均未表达;钟状期DSPP在内釉上皮和牙乳头中有表达,COL-Ⅰ表达于牙乳头和牙囊;分泌期和矿化期DSPP、COL-Ⅰ在成釉细胞、成牙本质细胞、牙囊内均有表达,COL-Ⅰ在牙乳头内亦可见表达。小鼠vps4b基因敲除后,DSPP在钟状期牙乳头和分泌期牙乳头及牙囊内未见表达,COL-Ⅰ在钟状期及矿化期表达部位与野生型小鼠一致,分泌期在牙乳头的表达发生改变。结论 vps4b基因在牙胚发育中发挥重要作用;DSPP、COL-Ⅰ的表达可能受vps4b基因的调控,并与vps4b共同调节牙齿牙本质的发育。     

牙本质涎磷蛋白、Ⅰ型胶原蛋白在vps4b基因敲除鼠磨牙牙胚发育中的时空表达

目的 研究vps4b基因突变对牙齿发育相关蛋白——牙本质涎磷蛋白（DSPP）和Ⅰ型胶原蛋白（COL-Ⅰ）表达的影响。方法 取胚胎E13.5 d、E14.5 d、E16.5 d的胎鼠头部及出生后P2.5 d、P7 d的幼鼠下颌骨组织,石蜡包埋后获取第一磨牙牙胚组织切片,采用免疫组织化学染色法检测野生型小鼠和vps4b基因敲除小鼠牙胚中DSPP、COL-Ⅰ的表达。结果 野生鼠蕾状期和帽状期DSPP、COL-Ⅰ均未表达;钟状期DSPP在内釉上皮和牙乳头中有表达,COL-Ⅰ表达于牙乳头和牙囊;分泌期和矿化期DSPP、COL-Ⅰ在成釉细胞、成牙本质细胞、牙囊内均有表达,COL-Ⅰ在牙乳头内亦可见表达。小鼠vps4b基因敲除后,DSPP在钟状期牙乳头和分泌期牙乳头及牙囊内未见表达,COL-Ⅰ在钟状期及矿化期表达部位与野生型小鼠一致,分泌期在牙乳头的表达发生改变。结论 vps4b基因在牙胚发育中发挥重要作用;DSPP、COL-Ⅰ的表达可能受vps4b基因的调控,并与vps4b共同调节牙齿牙本质的发育。     

PHEX蛋白在小鼠成牙本质细胞分化过程中的定量表达

目的:探讨PHEX在小鼠成牙本质细胞分化过程中的定量表达及其可能的生物学作用.方法:制备小鼠牙胚发育各阶段标本,免疫组织化学方法检测PHEX蛋白在小鼠磨牙牙胚发育各时期成牙本质细胞中的表达情况.对成牙本质细胞中的阳性信号进行定量,并进行统计分析.结果:PHEX蛋白主要表达于分化成熟的成牙本质细胞.在时间上,牙胚帽状期(E16)中未分化的牙乳头细胞无明显表达,钟状期(E18)靠近基底膜处的牙乳头细胞有弱阳性表达,硬组织形成期(P5)可见到成熟的成牙本质细胞中有强烈表达;在硬组织形成期(P5)的空间分布上,颈环处未分化的牙乳头细胞中无明显表达,而未来牙尖处分化成熟的成牙本质细胞则有强烈表达.结论:PHEX蛋白表达具有特定的时间-空间分布特征,PHEX参与了小鼠成牙本质细胞的分化过程,可能在牙本质矿化过程发挥重要的作用.     

Ddit3在小鼠下颌第一磨牙牙胚不同时期的表达研究

目的:检测Ddit3在小鼠下颌第一磨牙牙胚不同时期的表达分布及变化规律,初步揭示Ddit3在小鼠牙胚发育中的作用。方法:取不同胚胎时间点的ICR妊娠小鼠,制备牙胚发育标本,通过免疫荧光和免疫组化的方法显示Ddit3在小鼠下颌第一磨牙牙胚发育不同时间点的表达分布。结果:Ddit3在牙胚发育的早期主要表达于胞浆中,从钟状期开始,Ddit3不仅在胞浆中有阳性表达,同时也微弱地表达于细胞核中。分布如下:在小鼠下颌第一磨牙发育的板状期,Ddit3几乎没有表达。在蕾状期,Ddit3主要表达于釉上皮的细胞质中,在牙外胚间充质细胞中几乎无表达。在帽状期,Ddit3的表达模式基本和蕾状期相同。在钟状期早期,Ddit3在成釉细胞、前成牙本质细胞和牙乳头胞质中呈阳性表达,在部分细胞核中也检测到了Ddit3的表达。钟状期晚期,Ddit3在新形成的硬组织周围的高柱状成釉细胞、成牙本质细胞和牙乳头细胞的胞浆中有阳性表达,在大多数成釉细胞、成牙本质细胞和牙乳头细胞的细胞核中也有表达。结论:Ddit3可能会调节成釉细胞和成牙本质细胞的分化及其硬组织的生物矿化。     

小鼠牙胚发育过程中collagenⅠ/Ⅲ的表达分布

目的:探讨collagenⅠ、Ⅲ在Balb/c小鼠牙胚发育各期的时间和空间分布特点,及两者在牙齿发育矿化中的作用。方法:用免疫组化方法检测小鼠牙胚发育各期collagenⅠ、Ⅲ的表达、分布。结果:collagenⅢ:出生前E13d小鼠牙胚蕾状期:口腔上皮细胞阳性表达( );E14~17d帽状期:口腔上皮细胞、成釉器星网层细胞表达弱阳性;E18~19d和出生后P1d钟状期与分化期:口腔上皮细胞、成釉器星网层细胞、牙乳头细胞、牙囊细胞表达阳性( );出生后P2~10d牙冠发育成熟期:成釉细胞、釉基质、成牙本质细胞、前期牙本质、牙乳头细胞、牙囊细胞、牙髓组织等均表达阳性( );P10~30d牙根发育成熟期:除上述细胞成分外,上皮根鞘、根周及根尖牙槽骨、牙骨质和牙周膜表达强阳性( )。collagenⅠ:在蕾状期无表达;帽状期:口腔上皮细胞、成釉器星网层细胞表达阳性;钟状期与分化期:口腔上皮细胞、成釉器星网层细胞、牙乳头细胞、牙囊细胞表达阳性;牙冠和牙根发育期:其分布和表达类似于collagenⅢ。结论:鉴于collagenⅠ、Ⅲ的表达和分布,表明它们均参与了牙胚和牙体硬组织的发育形成,但似乎cllagenⅢ的作用比collagenⅠ更为广泛。     

碱性成纤维细胞生长因子在人牙胚生长发育中的作用

目的 :研究碱性成纤维细胞生长因子在人牙胚生长发育中的作用。方法 :选择胎龄分别为 7、8、10、14周自愿终止妊娠的新鲜人胚胎各 4例 ,制作牙胚切片 ,将蕾状期、帽状期和钟状期牙胚切片 ,做免疫组化检测。结果 :bFGF在蕾状期上皮细胞强染 ,外胚间充质细胞少量弱染色 ;帽状期 ,bFGF在上皮细胞呈整体弱染色 ,牙乳头细胞染色更弱 ;钟状期 ,bFGF在内釉细胞呈强染色 ,牙乳头近切缘的外层细胞亦呈阳性染色 ,星网状层少量细胞弱染色。结论 :bFGF对人牙胚上皮细胞的增殖和分化起着促进作用 ;在人牙胚的钟状期 ,bFGF在促进内釉上皮细胞向成釉细胞转化以及牙乳头细胞向成牙本质细胞转化中起重要作用 ,促进牙胚发育成熟     

氯离子通道CLC-3在小鼠牙胚发育中的表达

目的:探讨CLC-3在BALB/c小鼠下颌第一磨牙牙胚不同发育时期的时空表达。方法:选取E13.5、E15.5、E18.5 d的BALB/c胎鼠和P1、P5 d的BALB/c小鼠,脱颈处死后取其头部,梯度乙醇脱水,石蜡包埋后连续切片,最后对石蜡切片行CLC-3免疫组化染色。结果:当胎鼠牙胚处于蕾状期时,CLC-3在牙胚的牙板上皮中可见表达;当牙胚发育为帽状期时,在牙乳头和牙囊细胞中表达;到钟状期时,CLC-3在牙乳头、牙囊、星网状层细胞和中间层细胞中广泛表达。出生后的小鼠CLC-3在牙乳头、牙囊、成釉细胞、成牙本质细胞、星网状层细胞、中间层细胞中均广泛表达。结论:CLC-3在小鼠牙胚发育的不同时期呈现不同的时空表达。     

C-Met在ICR小鼠下颌第一磨牙牙胚中的表达

目的探讨c-Met在小鼠下颌第一磨牙牙胚发育中的表达情况。方法采用孕12d、13d、14d、16d、18d ICR胎鼠及出生后2d ICR仔鼠的头部制作冰冻切片,以抗小鼠c-Met多克隆抗体对冰冻切片进行免疫荧光实验,激光共聚焦显微镜观察。结果 c-Met在牙胚蕾状期、帽状期的上皮、钟状期的内釉上皮、成釉细胞和成牙本质细胞中有表达;牙胚和口腔黏膜连接区域两侧的间充质中、牙乳头及蕾状早期颊侧下方下颌的间充质中c-Met也有表达。结论 C-Met对于牙齿的形态发生,成釉细胞和成牙本质细胞的分化,牙乳头细胞的发育可能具有重要作用。     

成釉蛋白在小鼠牙胚发育不同时期的免疫组化定位

目的：观察成釉蛋白（ameloblastin,AMBN)在小鼠牙胚发育不同时期的表达和分布情况。方法：采用免疫组化的方法观察AMBN在小鼠牙胚不同时期的表达和定位。结果：蕾状期、帽状期和钟状早期牙胚中未见AMBN的表达；出生后1d钟状期，在成釉细胞和釉基质中呈强阳性表达，成牙本质细胞和牙本质基质中呈弱阳性表达；出生后3d，在成釉细胞胞浆中呈弱阳性表达，在成牙本质细胞中表达阳性，着色较成釉细胞深；出生后7d，AMBN在成釉细胞托姆氏突呈弱阳性表达，其余部位呈阴性表达。在牙胚发育的各个时期，AMBN在外釉细胞、星网层细胞、牙乳头细胞均呈阴性表达。结论：AMBN参与釉基质的形成，可能与牙胚发育中基质形成的信息传递有关。     

Homeobox protein MSX‐1 inhibits expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2, bone morphogenetic protein 4, and lymphoid enhancer‐binding factor 1 via Wnt/β‐catenin signaling to prevent differentiation of dental mesenchymal cells during the late bell stage

Homeobox protein MSX‐1 (hereafter referred to as MSX‐1) is essential for early tooth‐germ development. Tooth‐germ development is arrested at bud stage in Msx1 knockout mice, which prompted us to study the functions of MSX‐1 beyond this stage. Here, we investigated the roles of MSX‐1 during late bell stage. Mesenchymal cells of the mandibular first molar were isolated from mice at embryonic day (E)17.5 and cultured in vitro. We determined the expression levels of β‐catenin, bone morphogenetic protein 2 (Bmp2), Bmp4, and lymphoid enhancer‐binding factor 1 (Lef1) after knockdown or overexpression of Msx1. Our findings suggest that knockdown of Msx1 promoted expression of Bmp2, Bmp4, and Lef1, resulting in elevated differentiation of odontoblasts, which was rescued by blocking the expression of these genes. In contrast, overexpression of Msx1 decreased the expression of Bmp2, Bmp4, and Lef1, leading to a reduction in odontoblast differentiation. The regulation of Bmp2, Bmp4, and Lef1 by Msx1 was mediated by the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. Additionally, knockdown of Msx1 impaired cell proliferation and slowed S‐phase progression, while overexpression of Msx1 also impaired cell proliferation and prolonged G1‐phase progression. We therefore conclude that MSX‐1 maintains cell proliferation by regulating transition of cells from G1‐phase to S‐phase and prevents odontoblast differentiation by inhibiting expression of Bmp2, Bmp4, and Lef1 at the late bell stage via the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway.     

Expression of Ki-67, Oct-4, γ-tubulin and α-tubulin in human tooth development

Aims

To analyze factors controlling cell proliferation and differentiation, and appearance of primary cilia during the cap and bell stages of incisor or/and canine human enamel organs.

Materials and methods

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of proliferating Ki-67 positive cells and expression of γ-tubulin, α-tubulin and Oct-4 was immunohistochemically analyzed in the cap an bell stages of 10 developing human incisor and canine germs, 8–21 weeks old.

Results

During the analyzed period, ratio of Ki-67 positive cells changed in outer enamel epithelium from 48.86% to 24.52%, in inner enamel epithelium increased from 56.11% to 60.06% and then dropped to 44.24%. While in dental papilla proliferation first increased from 46.26% to 55.45%, and then dropped to 22.08%, a constant decrease of proliferation characterized enamel reticulum (from 46.26% to 15.49%). Strong cytoplasmic Oct-4 expression characterized epithelial parts of enamel organ, particularly the differentiating ameloblasts. During further development, Oct-4 expression shifted to both nuclear and cytoplasmic expression in mesenchymal tooth components. Primary cilia characterized most of the cells in developing enamel organ. While non-ciliated (proliferating) cells mainly contained two centrioles (γ-tubulin), the primary cilia (α-tubulin) were arising from basal bodies (γ-tubulin) of non-proliferating cells.

Conclusions

We suggest that increase in cell proliferation enables growth of enamel organ, while its selective decrease leads to disintegration of some tooth parts. Drop of proliferation coincided with initiation of ameloblast and odontoblast differentiation. Additionally, cell differentiation was accompanied by increased expression of Oct-4 and probably by signalling via primary cilia, both regulating processes of cell proliferation and differentiation.     

A novel role for Twist-1 in pulp homeostasis

The molecular mechanisms that maintain the equilibrium of odontoblast progenitor cells in dental pulp are unknown. Here we tested whether homeostasis in dental pulp is modulated by Twist-1, a nuclear protein that partners with Runx2 during osteoblast differentiation. Our analysis of Twist-1(+/-) mice revealed phenotypic changes that involved an earlier onset of dentin matrix formation, increased alkaline phosphatase activity, and pulp stones within the pulp. RT-PCR analyses revealed Twist-1 expression in several adult organs, including pulp. Decreased levels of Twist-1 led to higher levels of type I collagen and Dspp gene expression in perivascular cells associated with the pulp stones. In mice heterozygous for both Twist-1 and Runx2 inactivation, the phenotype of pulp stones appeared completely rescued. These findings suggest that Twist-1 plays a key role in restraining odontoblast differentiation, thus maintaining homeostasis in dental pulp. Furthermore, Twist-1 functions in dental pulp are dependent on its interaction with Runx2.