Expression and localization of Nell-1 during murine molar development

Nel-like molecule-1 (Nell-1) is a recently discovered secreted protein that plays an important role in osteoblast differentiation, bone formation, and bone regeneration. However, its expression and distribution during tooth development are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression patterns of Nell-1 during murine molar development by immunohistochemistry. Nell-1 protein was expressed during molar development in embryonic and postnatal Kunming mice, but its expression levels and patterns at various developmental stages differed. At embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5) and E14.5, Nell-1 was found in both the entire enamel organ and the underlying mesenchyme. At E16.5, it was detected in the inner and outer enamel epithelia, stratum intermedium, secondary enamel knot, and dental papilla. At E18.5, Nell-1 was expressed in the differentiating ameloblasts, differentiating odontoblasts, and stratum intermedium. Positive staining was also found in the outer enamel epithelium. At postnatal day 2.5 (P2.5), P5, and P7, Nell-1 appeared in the secretory and mature ameloblasts and odontoblasts (odontoblastic bodies and processes) as well as immature enamel. Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath also stained positively at P7. At P13.5, positive staining was restricted to the reduced dental epithelium and odontoblasts, whereas Nell-1 disappeared in the mature enamel. During tooth eruption, Nell-1 was observed only in the odontoblastic bodies, odontoblastic processes, and endothelial cells of blood vessels. The spatiotemporal expression patterns of Nell-1 during murine tooth development suggest that it might play an important role in ameloblast and odontoblast differentiation, secretion and mineralization of the extracellular enamel matrix, molar crown morphogenesis, as well as root formation.     

Developmental regulation and ultrastructure of glycogen deposits during murine tooth morphogenesis

The distribution and ultrastructure of glycogen deposits were investigated in the murine tooth germ by histochemical periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining and transmission electron microscopy. Lower and upper first molars were examined in mouse embryos at embryonic days 11.5–17 (E11.5–E17) and in 2-day-old postnatal (P2) mice. The oral and dental epithelia and the mesenchymal cells were generally PAS-positive during tooth morphogenesis. PAS-negative cells were present at E13 in the distal tip of the tooth bud epithelium and in the contacting mesenchyme, and this complete lack of PAS reactivity continued in the dental papilla mesenchyme and inner enamel epithelium during the cap and bell stages. The lack of glycogen deposits in the interacting epithelium and mesenchyme during early morphogenesis may be associated with their demonstrated high signaling activities. Mesenchymal cells in the dental follicle consistently possessed small clusters or large pools of glycogen, which disappeared by P2. Since an intense PAS reaction was seen in mesenchymal cells at future bone sites, the glycogen in the dental follicle cells may be associated with their development into hard-tissue-forming cells. Ultrastructural observation of the enamel organ cells from the cap to early bell stages (E14–E15) revealed the occurrence of glycogen pools, which were associated with the Golgi apparatus and with vesicles having amorphous contents. Glycogen particles were also occasionally present inside vesicles or in the extracellular matrix. These may be associated with the exocytosis of glycosaminoglycan components into extracellular spaces and the formation of the stellate reticulum. Received: 9 November 1998 / Accepted: 17 January 1999     

Immunohistochemical localization of Pax6 in the developing tooth germ of mice

Recent studies have reported that supernumerary teeth were observed in the maxillary incisor area in several Pax6 homozygous mutant mouse and rat strains. To date, it remains unknown whether Pax6 is expressed during tooth development in any species. The study aimed to analyze the expression of Pax6 during mouse incisor and molar development. C57BL/6J mouse embryos on days E12.5, E13.5, E14.5, E16.5 and E18.5 were produced. Heads from these embryos, as well as from P1.5 mice, were processed for paraffin wax embedding (N ≥ 3 for each stage) and prepared for immunohistochemistry. Pax6 immunostaining was found in all tooth germs examined. At the E12.5 dental placode, E13.5 bud stage, E14.5 cap stage and E16.5 early bell stage, Pax6 was expressed in ectodermally derived tissues of tooth germs and oral epithelia adjacent to the tooth germs. Cells in the underlying dental ectomesenchyme that showed Pax9 expression were Pax6 negative. At E18.5 and P1.5, Pax6 was expressed in more differentiated ameloblasts and cells of the stratum intermedium and stellate reticulum that were derived from the oral epithelium, as well as in mesenchyme-derived differentiated odontoblasts. Pax6 expression was also observed in the submandibular gland, tongue filiform papilla and hair follicle at E16.5 and P1.5. The present study demonstrated that Pax6 was expressed in incisor and molar germs during mouse tooth development. The results provide a basis for exploring the function of Pax6 during tooth development.     

Immunohistochemical localization of LIM mineralization protein 1 during mouse molar development

LIM mineralization protein 1 (LMP-1) is an essential positive regulator of osteoblast differentiation, maturation and bone formation. Our previous investigations on the distribution of LMP-1 in mature human teeth indicated that LMP-1 might play a role in the odontoblast differentiation and dentin matrix mineralization. The aim of the present study was to use immunohistochemistry to determine the expression of LMP-1 during tooth development in mouse molars. In embryonic and postnatal Kunming mice, LMP-1 protein was expressed during molar development, but the expression levels and patterns differed at various developmental stages. At embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5), LMP-1 was found in the enamel organ. At E14.5, LMP-1 was detected in the entire enamel organ and in the underlying mesenchyme. At E16.5, LMP-1 was observed in the inner and outer enamel epithelium and the stratum intermedium. The expression also converged at the cusps in the dental papilla. At E18.5 and postnatal day 2.5 (P2.5), LMP-1 was restricted to the stratum intermedium, in differentiating dental papilla cells at cusps, while it disappeared in terminal differentiated ameloblasts and odontoblasts. At P13.5, no positive staining was detected in the odontoblasts or in the dental pulp cells. Therefore, LMP-1 showed spatiotemporal expression patterns during molar development and might participate in molar crown morphogenesis and odontoblast differentiation at late molar development.     

Light and electron microscopical immunohistochemical localization of large proteoglycans in human tooth germs at the bell stage

Summary The immunohistochemical localization of large hyaluronate-binding proteoglycans has been studied in human tooth germs at the bell stage using a monoclonal antibody, 5D5, which is derived from bovine sclera and specifically recognizes the core protein of large proteoglycans, such as versican, neurocan and brevican, but not that of aggrecan. In the early bell stage before predentine secretion, when the enamel organs consisted of the inner and outer enamel epithelia, stratum intermedium and stellate reticulum, the enamel organs were not stained by 5D5, but the dental papillae and follicles stained strongly. Concomitant with the secretion of predentine, dentine and subsequent enamel matrix, strong 5D5 immunostaining distributed over the entire cell surfaces of secretory ameloblasts was observed. The forming enamel matrix showed strong staining. While most of the inner and outer enamel epithelia and stratum intermedium lacked staining, the cervical loop region and stellate reticulum showed weak staining. Although the forming dentine and odontoblasts appeared to lack 5D5 affinity, the predentine, dental papilla and dental follicle demonstrated moderate to strong reactivity. At the ultrastructural level, specific immunoreaction by immunogold particle deposition was clearly detected over the basal lamina of presecretory ameloblasts, secretion granules of secretory ameloblasts and the forming enamel matrix. These results indicate that a marked increase in the large proteoglycan associated with secretory ameloblasts may correlate with cell differentiation and enamel matrix biosynthesis. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Spatial and temporal expression of histone demethylase,Kdm2a,during murine molar development

The histone demethylase, lysine (K)-specific demethylase 2A (Kdm2a), is highly conserved and expressed ubiquitously. Kdm2a can regulate cell proliferation and osteo/dentinogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from dental tissue. We used quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis and immunohistochemistry to detect Kdm2a expression during development of the murine molar at embryonic days E12, E14, E16 and E17 and postnatal days P3 and P14. Immunohistochemistry results showed no positive staining of Kdm2a at E12. At E14, Kdm2a was expressed weakly in the inner enamel epithelium, stellate reticulum cells and dental sac. At E16, Kdm2a was expressed mainly in the inner and outer enamel epithelium, stratum intermedium and dental sac, but weaker staining was found in cervical loop and dental papilla cells adjacent to the basement membrane. At E17, the strongest Kdm2a staining was detected in the ameloblasts and stronger Kdm2a staining also was detected in the stratum intermedium, outer enamel epithelium and dental papilla cells compared to the expression at E16. Postnatally, we found that Kdm2a was localized in secretory and mature ameloblasts and odontoblasts, and dentin was unstained. Real-time RT-PCR showed that Kdm2a mRNA levels in murine germ cells increased from E12 to E14 and from E14 to E16; no significant change occurred at E16, E17 or P3, then the levels decreased at P14 compared to P3. Kdm2a expression may be closely related to cell proliferation, to ameloblast and odontoblast differentiation and to the secretion of extracellular enamel and dentin during murine tooth development.     

Growth factors in human tooth development

Our research concerns the immunohistochemical localization of EGF and IGF-I receptors in the tooth germ, using monoclonal antibodies. The results show that in the early phases of human tooth development EGF and IGF-I receptors are present. At bud stage both receptors are localized at dental laminae level, in some epithelial cells of the tooth bud and in some mesenchymal cells. At cap stage the receptors are present in the outer and inner enamel epithelium, and in some cells of stellate reticulum. As far as concerns the mesenchymal cells, some cells of dental papilla in contact with enamel organ, are intensely positive. The immunopositivity is present also in some mesenchymal cells at follicular level. At late cap stage and at early bell stage receptors are not present at inner enamel epithelium level but they can be detectable in the mesenchyma of dental papilla and in some cells of the follicle. On the basis of these results it may be hypothesized that EGF and IGF-I can act as growth factors in the modulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation during the human tooth morphogenesis. Moreover, it is possible that these substances can play a role in the mesenchymal-epithelial interaction in the developing human tooth.     

Differential expression of decorin and biglycan genes during mouse tooth development.

Small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) have a number of biological functions and some of them are thought to regulate collagen mineralizaton in bone and tooth. We have previously identified and immunolocalized two members of the SLRPs family, decorin and biglycan, in bovine tooth/periodontium. To investigate their potential roles in tooth development, we examined the mRNA expression patterns of decorin, biglycan and type I collagen in newborn (day 19) mice tooth germs by in situ hybridization. At this developmental stage, the first maxillary and mandibular molars include stages before and after secretion of the predentin matrix, respectively. The expression of decorin mRNA coincided with that of type I collagen mRNA and was mostly observed in secretory odontoblasts, while the biglycan mRNA was expressed throughout the tooth germ, including pre-secretory odontoblasts/ameloblasts, dental papilla and stellate reticulum. However, its signal in secretory odontoblasts was not as evident as that of decorin. In mandibular incisors, where a significant amount of predentin matrix and a small amount of enamel matrix were already secreted, a similar differential expression pattern was observed. In secretory ameloblasts the biglycan mRNA expression was apparent, while that of decorin was not. These differential expression patterns suggest the distinct roles of biglycan and decorin in the process of tooth development.     

Expression patterns of ABCG2, Bmi-1, Oct-3/4, and Yap in the developing mouse incisor

Recent studies have demonstrated the existence of dental stem cells in the continuously growing tooth. However, much remains to be learned about the complex mechanism involving stem cells during tooth development. We determined the expression patterns of four stem cell markers ABCG2, Bmi-1, Oct-3/4, and Yap in the developing mouse incisors between embryonic day (E) 11 and postnatal day (PN) 20. ABCG2 was localized strongly in the perivascular region of the incisor mesenchyme from E11 to PN20, and in the odontoblasts from E18 to PN20. Bmi-1 was expressed in both the dental epithelium and mesenchyme from E11 to E14. The expression of Bmi-1 was noticeably reduced at E16, and was restricted to the apical bud from E16 to PN20. Oct-3/4 was localized in the nucleus of the cells in the superficial layer and stellate reticulum within the dental epithelium from E11 to E14 and in the apical bud from E16 to PN20. Meanwhile, once the ameloblasts and odontoblasts began to appear at E16, they expressed Oct-3/4 in the cytoplasm. Yap was expressed in most of the basal cells of the incisor dental epithelium from E11 to E14, but was expressed mainly in the transit-amplifying (TA) cells within the basal cell layer from E16 to PN20. The unique and overlapping expression patterns of ABCG2, Bmi-1, Oct-3/4, and Yap suggest the independent and interactive functions of the four stem cell markers in the developing mouse incisor.     

Cell surface proteoglycan expression correlates with epithelial-mesenchymal interaction during tooth morphogenesis

Tooth morphogenesis and differentiation of the dental cells are guided by interactions between epithelial and mesenchymal tissues. Because the extracellular matrix is involved in these interactions, the expression of matrix receptors located at the cell surface may change during this developmental sequence. We have examined the distribution of an epithelial cell surface proteoglycan antigen, known to behave as a receptor for interstitial matrix, during tooth morphogenesis. Intense staining was seen around the cells of the embryonic oral epithelium as well as the dental epithelium at the early bud stage. With development, expression was greatly reduced in the enamel organ. Differentiation of these cells into ameloblasts was associated with the loss of expression, while the epithelial cells remaining in the stratum intermedium and stellate reticulum regained intense staining. The PG antigen was weakly expressed in the loose neural crest-derived jaw mesenchyme but it became strongly reactive in the condensed dental papilla mesenchyme when extensive morphogenetic movements took place. With development, the PG antigen disappeared from the advanced dental papilla mesenchyme but persisted in the dental sac mesenchyme, which gives rise to periodontal tissues. The PG antigen was not expressed by odontoblasts. Hence, the expression of the PG antigen changes during the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions of tooth development and is lost during terminal cell differentiation. The expression follows morphogenetic rather than histologic boundaries. The acquisition and loss of expression in epithelial and mesenchymal tissues during tooth development suggest that this proteoglycan has specific functions in the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions that guide morphogenesis.     

Temporospatial tissue interactions regulating the regeneration of the enamel knot in the developing mouse tooth

The enamel knot (EK), which is a transient signaling center in the tooth germ, regulates both the differential growth of the dental epithelium and the tooth shape. In this study, the regeneration of the EK was evaluated. The EK regions were removed from the E14 and E16 dental epithelia, and the remaining epithelia were recombined with their original dental mesenchymes. All these tooth germs could develop into calcified teeth after being transplanted into the kidney capsule for 3 weeks. One primary EK was regenerated earlier, and two or three secondary EKs were regenerated later in culture. When simply recombined without removing the EK, the tooth germ, which had four secondary EKs and four cuspal areas of the dental papilla, generated one primary EK first and subsequent secondary EKs. These results indicate that the patterning of the EK in all tooth germs always starts from a primary EK independent of the direct epithelial or mesenchymal control. This suggests that neither the dental epithelium nor the dental mesenchyme can dictate the pattern or number of the EK formation, but the interaction between the dental epithelium and the dental mesenchyme is essential for the regeneration and patterning of the EKs.     

Expression patterns of the homeobox gene, Hox-8, in the mouse embryo suggest a role in specifying tooth initiation and shape.

We have studied the expression patterns of the newly isolated homeobox gene, Hox-8 by in situ hybridisation to sections of the developing heads of mouse embryos between E9 and E17.5, and compared them to Hox-7 expression patterns in adjacent sections. This paper concentrates on the interesting expression patterns of Hox-8 during initiation and development of the molar and incisor teeth. Hox-8 expression domains are present in the neural crest-derived mesenchyme beneath sites of future tooth formation, in a proximo-distal gradient. Tooth development is initiated in the oral epithelium which subsequently thickens in discrete sites and invaginates to form the dental lamina. Hox-8 expression in mouse oral epithelium is first evident at the sites of the dental placodes, suggesting a role in the specification of tooth position. Subsequently, in molar teeth, this patch of Hox-8 expressing epithelium becomes incorporated within the buccal aspect of the invaginating dental lamina to form part of the external enamel epithelium of the cap stage tooth germ. This locus of Hox-8 expression becomes continuous with new sites of Hox-8 expression in the enamel navel, septum, knot and internal enamel epithelium. The transitory enamel knot, septum and navel were postulated, long ago, to be involved in specifying tooth shape, causing the inflection of the first buccal cusp, but this theory has been largely ignored. Interestingly, in the conical incisor teeth, the enamel navel, septum and knot are absent, and Hox-8 has a symmetrical expression pattern. Our demonstration of the precise expression patterns of Hox-8 in the early dental placodes and their subsequent association with the enamel knot, septum and navel provide the first molecular clues to the basis of patterning in the dentition and the association of tooth position with tooth shape: an association all the more intriguing in view of the evolutionary robustness of the patterning mechanism, and the known role of homeobox genes in Drosophila pattern formation. At the bell stage of tooth development, Hox-8 expression switches tissue layers, being absent from the differentiating epithelial ameloblasts and turned on in the differentiating mesenchymal odontoblasts. Hox-7 is expressed in the mesenchyme of the dental papilla and follicle at all stages. This reciprocity of expression suggests an interactive role between Hox-7, Hox-8 and other genes in regulating epithelial mesenchymal interactions during dental differentiation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Ultrastructure of the human enamel organ

Summary The fine structure of external enamel epithelium, stellate reticulum and stratum intermedium in primary tooth germs (bell stage) from four human foetuses was investigated.Characteristically, the cells of the differentiated external enamel epithelium, stellate reticulum and stratum intermedium exhibit many free ribosomes, few rough endoplasmic reticulum cisterns, well-developed Golgi complexes, many coated and smooth vesicles, often in relation to the cell membranes, and many bundles of tonofilaments. The cells are connected by numerous desmosomes and gap junctions.A parallel differentiation of stratum intermedium — external enamel epithelium, and the ameloblast layer is demonstrated.The morphology of the cells of the three layers indicates that these have secretory, transport and supporting functions.     

Localization of Beclin1 in mouse developing tooth germs: possible implication of the interrelation between autophagy and apoptosis

Our previous study identified the appearance of autophagy in developing tooth germs, and suggested its possible association with apoptosis in odontogenesis. Beclin1 was recently indicated to play a central role in bridging autophagy and apoptosis, and occupied a key position in the process of development. This study hypothesized that Beclin1 may be involved, and act as the molecular basis of the connection between autophagy and apoptosis in odontogenesis. Immunohistochemical analysis showed the spatiotemporal expression pattern of Beclin1 in odontogenesis from embryonic (E) day 13.5 to postnatal (P) day 5.5. At E stages, Beclin1 was mainly immunolocalized in the cytoplasm of the cells in the enamel organ. Meanwhile, the nucleus localization of Beclin1 was detected in part of the stellate reticulum, outer and inner enamel epithelium, especially at E16.5 and E18.5. At P stages, Beclin1 was detected in the cytoplasm of the odontoblasts, besides the dental epithelium cells. Triple immunofluorescence analysis showed the partial colocalization of Beclin1, autophagic marker LC3, or activated caspase-3 in the E14.5 tooth germs, especially the Beclin1⁺LC3⁺Caspase-3⁺ cells in the PEK. Furthermore, western blot analysis revealed that the full-length (60 kDa) and/or cleaved (50, 37, and 35 kDa) Beclin1 in the developing tooth germs. Taken together, our findings indicate that Beclin1 is involved, and might be responsible for the crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis in mouse odontogenesis.     

In situ expression of heat shock proteins,Hsc73, Hsj2 and Hsp86 in the developing tooth germ of mouse lower first molar

This study examined the detailed gene expression pattern of three different heat shock proteins (HSPs), Hsc73, Hsj2, and Hsp86, by means of an in situ hybridization method. Hsc73, Hsj2, and Hsp86 were shown in our previous study to be differentially expressed in the mouse embryonic mandible at day 10.5 (E10.5) gestational age. These HSP genes showed similar expression patterns during development of the mouse lower first molar. HSPs-expressing cells were widely distributed in both the epithelial and underlying ectomesenchymal cells at E10.5, and then were slightly localized at E12 in an area where the tooth germ of the lower first molar is estimated to be formed. A strong expression of HSPs was observed in the tooth germ at E13.5. At the cap stage, HSPs were expressed in the enamel organ and dental papilla. At the bell stage, HSPs were distinctly expressed in the inner enamel epithelium and dental papilla cells facing the inner enamel epithelial layer, which later differentiate into ameloblasts and odontoblasts, respectively. This study is the first report in which Hsc73, Hsj2, and Hsp86 were distinctly expressed in the developing tooth germ, thus suggesting these HSPs are related to the development and differentiation of odontogenic cells.