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Journal of Molecular Histology Apr 2024Cytodifferentiation of odontogenic cells, a late stage event in odontogenesis is based on gene regulation. However, studies on the identification of the involved genes... (Review)
Review
Cytodifferentiation of odontogenic cells, a late stage event in odontogenesis is based on gene regulation. However, studies on the identification of the involved genes are scarce. The present study aimed to search for molecules for the cytodifferentiation of ameloblastic cells in rats. Differential display-PCR revealed a differentially expressed gene between cap/early bell stage and hard tissue formation stage in molars. This gene was identified as N-myc Downregulated Gene 1 (Ndrg1), which is the first report in tooth development. Real time PCR and western blotting confirmed that the mRNA level of Ndrg1 was higher during enamel formation than the cap stage. Ndrg1 expression was upregulated in the early bell, crown, and root stages in a time-dependent manner. These patterns of expression were similar in Ndrg2, but Ndrg3 and Ndrg4 levels did not change during the developmental stages. Immunofluorescence revealed that strong immunoreactivity against Ndrg1 were detected in differentiated ameloblasts only, not inner enamel epithelium, odontoblasts and ameloblastic cells in defected enamel regions. Alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red s stains along with real time PCR, revealed that Ndrg1 and Ndrg2 were involved in cytodifferentiation and enamel matrix mineralization by selectively regulating amelogenin and ameloblastin genes in SF2 ameloblastic cells. These results suggest that Ndrg may play a crucial functional role in the cytodifferentiation of ameloblasts for amelogenesis.
Topics: Animals; Rats; Ameloblasts; Amelogenesis; Molar; Muscle Proteins; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Odontogenesis; Proteins
PubMed: 38407765
DOI: 10.1007/s10735-024-10182-9 -
Journal of Medical Genetics Mar 2024Collagen XVII is most typically associated with human disease when biallelic variants (>230) cause junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB), a rare, genetically...
BACKGROUND
Collagen XVII is most typically associated with human disease when biallelic variants (>230) cause junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB), a rare, genetically heterogeneous, mucocutaneous blistering disease with amelogenesis imperfecta (AI), a developmental enamel defect. Despite recognition that heterozygous carriers in JEB families can have AI, and that heterozygous variants also cause dominant corneal epithelial recurrent erosion dystrophy (ERED), the importance of heterozygous variants causing dominant non-syndromic AI is not widely recognised.
METHODS
Probands from an AI cohort were screened by single molecule molecular inversion probes or targeted hybridisation capture (both a custom panel and whole exome sequencing) for variants. Patient phenotypes were assessed by clinical examination and analyses of affected teeth.
RESULTS
Nineteen unrelated probands with isolated AI (no co-segregating features) had 17 heterozygous, potentially pathogenic variants, including missense, premature termination codons, frameshift and splice site variants in both the endo-domains and the ecto-domains of the protein. The AI phenotype was consistent with enamel of near normal thickness and variable focal hypoplasia with surface irregularities including pitting.
CONCLUSION
These results indicate that variants are a frequent cause of dominantly inherited non-syndromic AI. Comparison of variants implicated in AI and JEB identifies similarities in type and distribution, with five identified in both conditions, one of which may also cause ERED. Increased availability of genetic testing means that more individuals will receive reports of heterozygous variants. We propose that patients with isolated AI or ERED, due to variants, should be considered as potential carriers for JEB and counselled accordingly, reflecting the importance of multidisciplinary care.
Topics: Humans; Non-Fibrillar Collagens; Autoantigens; Amelogenesis Imperfecta; Heterozygote; Phenotype; Mutation
PubMed: 37979963
DOI: 10.1136/jmg-2023-109510 -
Special Care in Dentistry : Official... 2024KohlschüttereTönz syndrome (KTS), also called amelo-cerebro-hypohidrotic syndrome, is a very rare genetic condition, described for the first time by Kohlschutter,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
KohlschüttereTönz syndrome (KTS), also called amelo-cerebro-hypohidrotic syndrome, is a very rare genetic condition, described for the first time by Kohlschutter, which typically manifests as a triad of symptoms: amelogenesis imperfecta, infantile onset epilepsy, and intellectual disability. 47 cases were reported in English language literature since 1974-2021.
CASE REPORT
A 7-year-old girl was referred for dental evaluation. Oral examination revealed yellowish color of all the teeth due to enamel hypoplasia. The radiographic exam revealed a thin layer of enamel with decreased radiopacity of the enamel compared to that of dentin. The diagnosis of amelogenesis Imperfecta was established. In addition to that, the child's parents reported that she had spasticity, epileptic seizures and psychomotor developmental delay. The association of all these features leads us to conclude to KTS.
CONCLUSION
It seems that numerous cases of KTS are still undiagnosed in the world, so this paper highlights the common clinical features of Kohlschütter-Tönz Syndrome helping to an early diagnosis and more research about this condition.
Topics: Child; Female; Humans; Amelogenesis Imperfecta; Epilepsy; Dementia; Tooth; Dental Enamel; Syndrome
PubMed: 37365770
DOI: 10.1111/scd.12897 -
Stem Cell Reviews and Reports Mar 2024Ameloblasts are the specialized dental epithelial cell type responsible for enamel formation. Following completion of enamel development in humans, ameloblasts are lost... (Review)
Review
Ameloblasts are the specialized dental epithelial cell type responsible for enamel formation. Following completion of enamel development in humans, ameloblasts are lost and biological repair or regeneration of enamel is not possible. In the past, in vitro models to study dental epithelium and ameloblast biology were limited to freshly isolated primary cells or immortalized cell lines, both with limited translational potential. In recent years, large strides have been made with the development of induced pluripotent stem cell and organoid models of this essential dental lineage - both enabling modeling of human dental epithelium. Upon induction with several different signaling factors (such as transforming growth factor and bone morphogenetic proteins) these models display elevated expression of ameloblast markers and enamel matrix proteins. The advent of 3D bioprinting, and its potential combination with these advanced cellular tools, is poised to revolutionize the field - and its potential for tissue engineering, regenerative and personalized medicine. As the advancements in these technologies are rapidly evolving, we evaluate the current state-of-the-art regarding in vitro cell culture models of dental epithelium and ameloblast lineage with a particular focus toward their applicability for translational tissue engineering and regenerative/personalized medicine.
PubMed: 38498295
DOI: 10.1007/s12015-024-10702-w -
Special Care in Dentistry : Official... Dec 2023Jalili syndrome (JS) (MIM#217080) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with oculo-dental malformations. The clinical phenotype is characterized by the presence of...
Jalili syndrome (JS) (MIM#217080) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with oculo-dental malformations. The clinical phenotype is characterized by the presence of Cone-Rod Dystrophy (CRD) and Amelogenesis Imperfecta (AI). Genetic mechanism entails a mutation in the CNNM4, a metal transporter gene located on Chromosome 2q11.2. A high fluoride concentration in groundwater has also been identified as an epigenetic factor in this syndrome. JS draws the attention of dentists due to its distinct oral manifestations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first genetically confirmed pediatric case report from the Indian subcontinent emphasizing the clinical and radiographic features of this condition and its management in a 6-year-old child.
PubMed: 38151709
DOI: 10.1111/scd.12953 -
Experimental & Molecular Medicine Jul 2024The asymmetric division of stem cells permits the maintenance of the cell population and differentiation for harmonious progress. Developing mouse incisors allows...
The asymmetric division of stem cells permits the maintenance of the cell population and differentiation for harmonious progress. Developing mouse incisors allows inspection of the role of the stem cell niche to provide specific insights into essential developmental phases. Microtubule-associated serine/threonine kinase family member 4 (Mast4) knockout (KO) mice showed abnormal incisor development with low hardness, as the size of the apical bud was decreased and preameloblasts were shifted to the apical side, resulting in amelogenesis imperfecta. In addition, Mast4 KO incisors showed abnormal enamel maturation, and stem cell maintenance was inhibited as amelogenesis was accelerated with Wnt signal downregulation. Distal-Less Homeobox 3 (DLX3), a critical factor in tooth amelogenesis, is considered to be responsible for the development of amelogenesis imperfecta in humans. MAST4 directly binds to DLX3 and induces phosphorylation at three residues within the nuclear localization site (NLS) that promotes the nuclear translocation of DLX3. MAST4-mediated phosphorylation of DLX3 ultimately controls the transcription of DLX3 target genes, which are carbonic anhydrase and ion transporter genes involved in the pH regulation process during ameloblast maturation. Taken together, our data reveal a novel role for MAST4 as a critical regulator of the entire amelogenesis process through its control of Wnt signaling and DLX3 transcriptional activity.
PubMed: 38945953
DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01264-5 -
Frontiers in Physiology 2023Developmental defects of the enamel manifest before tooth eruption and include amelogenesis imperfecta, a rare disease of underlying gene mutations, and molar-incisor...
Developmental defects of the enamel manifest before tooth eruption and include amelogenesis imperfecta, a rare disease of underlying gene mutations, and molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH), a prevalent disease in children originating from environmental and epigenetic factors. MIH enamel presents as the abnormal enamel marked by loss of translucency, demarcation between the healthy and affected enamel, and reduced mineral content. The pathophysiology of opaque, demarcated enamel lesions is not understood; however, the retention of enamel proteins in the matrix has been suggested. Ameloblastin (Ambn) is an enamel protein of the secreted calcium-binding phosphoproteins (SCPPs) critical for enamel formation. When the gene is mutated or deleted, teeth are affected by hypoplastic amelogenesis imperfecta. In this study, enamel formation in mice was analyzed when transgenic was overexpressed from the amelogenin promoter encoding full-length Ambn. was under- and overexpressed at six increasing concentrations in separate mouse lines. Mice overexpressing displayed opaque enamel at low concentrations and demarcated lesions at high concentrations. The severity of enamel lesions increased starting from the inner enamel close to the dentino-enamel junction (DEJ) to span the entire width of the enamel layer in demarcated areas. Associated with the opaque enamel were 17-kDa Ambn cleavage products, a prolonged secretory stage, and a thin basement membrane in the maturation stage. Ambn accumulations found in the innermost enamel close to the DEJ and the mineralization front correlated with reduced mineral content. Demarcated enamel lesions were associated with Ambn species of 17 kDa and higher, prolonged secretory and transition stages, a thin basement membrane, and shortened maturation stages. Hypomineralized opacities were delineated against the surrounding mineralized enamel and adjacent to ameloblasts detached from the enamel surface. Inefficient Ambn cleavage, loss of contact between ameloblasts, and the altered basement membrane curtailed the endocytic activity; thus, enamel proteins remained unresorbed in the matrix. Ameloblasts have the ability to distinguish between Ambn concentration and Ambn cleavage products through finely tuned feedback mechanisms. The under- or overexpression of Ambn in murine secretory ameloblasts results in either hypoplastic amelogenesis imperfecta or hypomineralization with opaque or sharply demarcated boundaries of lesions, similar to MIH.
PubMed: 38274050
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1233391 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024mutations cause X-linked amelogenesis imperfecta (AI), known as AI types IE, IIB, and IIC in Witkop's classification, characterized by hypoplastic (reduced thickness)...
mutations cause X-linked amelogenesis imperfecta (AI), known as AI types IE, IIB, and IIC in Witkop's classification, characterized by hypoplastic (reduced thickness) and/or hypomaturation (reduced hardness) enamel defects. In this study, we conducted whole exome analyses to unravel the disease-causing mutations for six AI families. Splicing assays, immunoblotting, and quantitative RT-PCR were conducted to investigate the molecular and cellular effects of the mutations. Four pathogenic variants (NM_182680.1:c.2T>C; c.29T>C; c.77del; c.145-1G>A) and a whole gene deletion (NG_012494.2:g.307534_403773del) were identified. The affected individuals exhibited enamel malformations, ranging from thin, poorly mineralized enamel with a "snow-capped" appearance to severe hypoplastic defects with minimal enamel. The c.145-1G>A mutation caused a -1 frameshift (NP_001133.1:p.Val35Cysfs*5). Overexpression of c.2T>C and c.29T>C demonstrated that mutant amelogenin proteins failed to be secreted, causing elevated endoplasmic reticulum stress and potential cell apoptosis. This study reveals a genotype-phenotype relationship for -associated AI: While amorphic mutations, including large deletions and 5' truncations, of cause hypoplastic-hypomaturation enamel with snow-capped teeth (AI types IIB and IIC) due to a complete loss of gene function, neomorphic variants, including signal peptide defects and 3' truncations, lead to severe hypoplastic/aplastic enamel (AI type IE) probably caused by "toxic" cellular effects of the mutant proteins.
Topics: Amelogenesis Imperfecta; Humans; Amelogenin; Male; Female; Genetic Association Studies; Mutation; Pedigree; Phenotype; Child; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress; Genotype; Exome Sequencing
PubMed: 38892321
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116132 -
Journal of Medical Genetics Jun 2024Plexins are large transmembrane receptors for the semaphorin family of signalling proteins. Semaphorin-plexin signalling controls cellular interactions that are critical...
BACKGROUND
Plexins are large transmembrane receptors for the semaphorin family of signalling proteins. Semaphorin-plexin signalling controls cellular interactions that are critical during development as well as in adult life stages. Nine plexin genes have been identified in humans, but despite the apparent importance of plexins in development, only biallelic and variants have so far been associated with Mendelian genetic disease.
METHODS
Eight individuals from six families presented with a recessively inherited variable clinical condition, with core features of amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), with variable intellectual disability. Probands were investigated by exome or genome sequencing. Common variants and those unlikely to affect function were excluded. Variants consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance were prioritised. Variant segregation analysis was performed by Sanger sequencing. RNA expression analysis was conducted in C57Bl6 mice.
RESULTS
Rare biallelic pathogenic variants in plexin B2 (), a large transmembrane semaphorin receptor protein, were found to segregate with disease in all six families. The variants identified include missense, nonsense, splicing changes and a multiexon deletion. expression was detected in differentiating ameloblasts.
CONCLUSION
We identify rare biallelic pathogenic variants in as a cause of a new autosomal recessive, phenotypically diverse syndrome with AI and SNHL as core features. Intellectual disability, ocular disease, ear developmental abnormalities and lymphoedema were also present in multiple cases. The variable syndromic human phenotype overlaps with that seen in knockout mice, and, together with the rarity of human variants, may explain why pathogenic variants in have not been reported previously.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Male; Female; Mice; Intellectual Disability; Pedigree; Amelogenesis Imperfecta; Receptors, Cell Surface; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Alleles; Child; Hearing Loss; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural; Adult; Mutation; Adolescent; Child, Preschool; Phenotype
PubMed: 38458752
DOI: 10.1136/jmg-2023-109728 -
Iranian Journal of Biotechnology Oct 2023Dental enamel formation is a complex process that is regulated by various genes. One such gene, Family With Sequence Similarity 83 Member H (Fam83h), has been identified...
BACKGROUND
Dental enamel formation is a complex process that is regulated by various genes. One such gene, Family With Sequence Similarity 83 Member H (Fam83h), has been identified as an essential factor for dental enamel formation. Additionally, Fam83h has been found to be potentially linked to the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to investigate the effects of the Fam83h knockout gene on mineralization and formation of teeth, along with mediators of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway as a development aspect in mice.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
To confirm the Fam83h-KnockOut mice, both Sanger sequencing and Western blot methods were used. then used qPCR to measure the expression levels of genes related to tooth mineralization and formation of dental root, including Fam20a, Dspp, Dmp1, Enam, Ambn, Sppl2a, Mmp20, and Wnt/β-catenin pathway mediators, in both the Fam83h-Knockout and wild-type mice at 5, 11 and 18 days of age. also the expression level of Fgf10 and mediators of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was measured in the skin of both Knockout and wild-type mice using qPCR. A histological assessment was then performed to further investigate the results.
RESULTS
A significant reduction in the expression levels of Ambn, Mmp20, Dspp, and Fgf10 in the dental root of Fam83h-Knockout mice compared to their wild-type counterparts was demonstrated by our results, indicating potential disruptions in tooth development. Significant down-regulation of CK1a, CK1e, and β-catenin in the dental root of Fam83h-Knockout mice was associated with a reduction in mineralization and formation-related gene. Additionally, the skin analysis of Fam83h-Knockout mice revealed reduced levels of Fgf10, CK1a, CK1e, and β-catenin. Further histological assessment confirmed that the concurrent reduction of Fgf10 expression level and Wnt/β-catenin genes were associated with alterations in hair follicle maturation.
CONCLUSIONS
The concurrent reduction in the expression level of both Wnt/β-catenin mediators and mineralization-related genes, resulting in the disruption of dental mineralization and formation, was caused by the deficiency of Fam83h. Our findings suggest a cumulative effect and multi-factorial interplay between Fam83h, Wnt/Β-Catenin signaling, and dental mineralization-related genes subsequently, during the dental formation process.
PubMed: 38269199
DOI: 10.30498/ijb.2023.391902.3673