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The absence of muscle segment homeobox 2 leads to the pyroptosis of ameloblasts by inducing squamous epithelial hyperplasia in the enamel organ |
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| Authors: | Juanjuan Zhang Ying Xu Ying Zhao Jingkun Bai Mengge Xu Chuanji Li Jinyue Li Yong Ren Chang Xu Yuguang Gao Yan Sun Xiaoying Liu |
| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Oral Biology, School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China Contribution: Methodology (lead);2. Department of Oral Biology, School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China Contribution: Methodology (equal);3. Department of Oral Biology, School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China Contribution: Formal analysis (supporting);4. Department of Oral Biology, School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China Contribution: Funding acquisition (equal);5. Department of Oral Biology, School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China Contribution: Software (equal);6. Department of Oral Biology, School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China Contribution: Resources (equal);7. Department of Oral Biology, School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China Contribution: Formal analysis (equal);8. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China Contribution: Data curation (equal);9. Department of Oral Biology, School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China |
| Abstract: | Muscle segment homeobox 2 (MSX2) has been confirmed to be involved in the regulation of early tooth development. However, the role of MSX2 has not been fully elucidated in enamel development. To research the functions of MSX2 in enamel formation, we used a Msx2−/− (KO) mouse model with no full Msx2 gene. In the present study, the dental appearance and enamel microstructure were detected by scanning electron microscopy and micro-computed tomography. The results showed that the absence of Msx2 resulted in enamel defects, leading to severe tooth wear in KO mice. To further investigate the mechanism behind the phenotype, we performed detailed histological analyses of the enamel organ in KO mice. We discovered that ameloblasts without Msx2 could secrete a small amount of enamel matrix protein in the early stage. However, the enamel epithelium occurred squamous epithelial hyperplasia and partial keratinization in the enamel organ during subsequent developmental stages. Ameloblasts depolarized and underwent pyroptosis. Overall, during the development of enamel, MSX2 affects the formation of enamel by regulating the function of epithelial cells in the enamel organ. |
| Keywords: | ameloblast enamel development MSX2 pyroptosis squamous epithelial hyperplasia |