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Transcription factor BCL11B enforces asymmetric enamel‐secreting cell development in the mouse incisor by bidirectional regulation of gene expression
Author(s) -
Kyrylkova Kateryna,
Kyryachenko Sergiy,
Kioussi Chrissa,
Leid Mark
Publication year - 2013
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.27.1_supplement.1180.11
Subject(s) - ameloblast , organogenesis , sonic hedgehog , transcription factor , microbiology and biotechnology , enamel paint , incisor , biology , gli2 , dentistry , gene , signal transduction , genetics , medicine , ecology
Dental caries is one of the most common diseases, affecting 92% of adults, and is a primary reason for tooth loss. The current state‐of‐the‐art approach to replace a missing tooth is by means of a dental implant, which is, however, prone to mechanical and biological failure. Therefore, the ultimate goal of the therapeutic sciences is to develop dental tissue and whole tooth bioengineering. Molecular mechanisms of tooth organogenesis and enamel formation can be studied using mouse incisor development. Asymmetric deposition of enamel only on the outer side of the tooth makes mouse incisor an attractive model system. We show that the transcription factor BCL11B strongly enforces asymmetric localization of enamel‐secreting cells (ameloblasts) in the mouse incisor. BCL11B does so by promoting development and differentiation of the epithelial stem cells into the ameloblasts on the outer side while suppressing these processes on the inner side of the tooth. Underlying these spatio‐specific functions of BCL11B is the bidirectional regulation of a large gene network, comprised of genes encoding members of the FGF, TGFβ, and Sonic hedgehog signaling. These studies are of significance because they will contribute to a broader understanding of how the activities of transcription and growth factors are regulated during tooth organogenesis and how they can be modulated as an approach to therapy and tooth bioengineering.