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Pannexin 3, a gap junction protein, Regulates Odontoblasts Differentiation
Author(s) -
Iwamoto Tsutomu,
Nakamura Takashi,
Yamada Aya,
Yamada Yoshihiko,
Fukumoto Satoshi
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.634.5
Subject(s) - odontoblast , pannexin , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , cellular differentiation , transfection , cell culture , biology , gap junction , dentistry , connexin , medicine , biochemistry , intracellular , dentin , genetics , gene
Pannexin 3 (Panx3) has recently been identified as a new member of the pannexin family of gap junction proteins, however its expression and physiological function in tooth development have been unknown thus far. In this study, our objectives are to analyze the expression of Panx3 and to identify the role of Panx3 in tooth development. We found that Panx3 was strongly expressed in developing teeth. In situ hybridization revealed that Panx3 mRNA was expressed in the pre‐odontoblast layer, which represents an intermediate stage between proliferating dental mesenchymal cells and differentiated odontoblasts. Immunohistochemistry showed that the Panx3 protein was localized in cell membranes, especially in cell‐cell contact lesions as well as in cell‐matrix adhesion sites, where cells face the basement membrane and predentin. To analyze the function of Panx3, we used odontogenic cell line mDP6. Panx3 expression was induced during differentiation of mDP6 cells. Further, overexpression of Panx3 by transfection promoted mDP6 cell differentiation, while suppuration of endogenous Panx3 expression by siRNA inhibited mDP6 differentiation. Thus, our results suggest that Panx3 plays a role in the promotion of odontoblast differentiation. (Supported by grants from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan and the Intramural Program of the NIDCR, NIH, USA.)