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Frontiers in Physiology 2022Junctional epithelium (JE) is a vital epithelial component which forms an attachment to the tooth surface at the gingival sulcus by the adhesion of protein complexes... (Review)
Review
Junctional epithelium (JE) is a vital epithelial component which forms an attachment to the tooth surface at the gingival sulcus by the adhesion of protein complexes from its basal layer. Disruption of the JE is associated with the development of gingivitis, periodontal disease, and alveolar bone loss. Odontogenic ameloblast-associated (ODAM) is comprised of a signal peptide and an ODAM protein with 12 putative glycosylation sites. It is expressed during odontogenesis by maturation stage ameloblasts and is incorporated into the enamel matrix during the formation of outer and surface layer enamel. ODAM, as a secreted protein which is accumulated at the interface between basal lamina and enamel, mediates the adhesion of the JE to the tooth surface; and is involved with extracellular signalling of WNT and ARHGEF5-RhoA, as well as intracellular signalling of BMP-2-BMPR-IB-ODAM. ODAM is also found to be highly expressed in salivary glands and appears to have implications for the regulation of formation, repair, and regeneration of the JE. Bioinformatics and research data have identified the anti-cancer properties of ODAM, indicating its potential both as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target. Understanding the biology of ODAM will help to design therapeutic strategies for periodontal and dental disorders.
PubMed: 36117697
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1003931 -
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta.... Nov 2018Biomineralization requires the controlled movement of ions across cell barriers to reach the sites of crystal growth. Mineral precipitation occurs in aqueous phases as... (Review)
Review
Biomineralization requires the controlled movement of ions across cell barriers to reach the sites of crystal growth. Mineral precipitation occurs in aqueous phases as fluids become supersaturated with specific ionic compositions. In the biological world, biomineralization is dominated by the presence of calcium (Ca) in crystal lattices. Ca channels are intrinsic modulators of this process, facilitating the availability of Ca within cells in a tightly regulated manner in time and space. Unequivocally, the most mineralized tissue produced by vertebrates, past and present, is dental enamel. With some of the longest carbonated hydroxyapatite (Hap) crystals known, dental enamel formation is fully coordinated by specialized epithelial cells of ectodermal origin known as ameloblasts. These cells form enamel in two main developmental stages: a) secretory; and b) maturation. The secretory stage is marked by volumetric growth of the tissue with limited mineralization, and the opposite is found in the maturation stage, as enamel crystals expand in width concomitant with increased ion transport. Disruptions in the formation and/or mineralization stages result, in most cases, in permanent alterations in the crystal assembly. This introduces weaknesses in the material properties affecting enamel's hardness and durability, thus limiting its efficacy as a biting, chewing tool and increasing the possibility of pathology. Here, we briefly review enamel development and discuss key properties of ameloblasts and their Ca-handling machinery, and how alterations in this toolkit result in enamelopathies.
Topics: Ameloblasts; Animals; Calcium; Calcium Channels; Calcium Signaling; Dental Enamel; Dental Enamel Proteins; Disease Susceptibility; Humans; Intracellular Space; Organelles; Signal Transduction; Stromal Interaction Molecule 1; Stromal Interaction Molecule 2
PubMed: 29750989
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2018.04.013 -
Journal of Dental Research Jun 2015Enamel is unique. It is the only epithelial-derived mineralized tissue in mammals and has a distinct micro- and nanostructure with nanofibrous apatite crystals as... (Review)
Review
Enamel is unique. It is the only epithelial-derived mineralized tissue in mammals and has a distinct micro- and nanostructure with nanofibrous apatite crystals as building blocks. It is synthesized by a highly specialized cell, the ameloblast, which secretes matrix proteins with little homology to any other known amino acid sequence, but which is composed of a primary structure that makes it competent to self-assemble and control apatite crystal growth at the nanometer scale. The end-product of ameloblast activity is a marvel of structural engineering: a material optimized to provide the tooth with maximum biting force, withstanding millions of cycles of loads without catastrophic failure, while also protecting the dental pulp from bacterial attack. This review attempts to bring into context the mechanical behavior of enamel with the developmental process of amelogenesis and structural development, since they are linked to tissue function, and the importance of controlling calcium phosphate mineralization at the nanometer scale. The origins of apatite nanofibers, the development of a stiffness gradient, and the biological processes responsible for the synthesis of a hard and fracture-resistant dental tissue are discussed with reference to the evolution of enamel from a fibrous composite to a complex, tough, and damage-tolerant coating on dentin.
Topics: Ameloblasts; Amelogenesis; Apatites; Biomechanical Phenomena; Calcium Phosphates; Crystallization; Dental Enamel; Dental Enamel Proteins; Humans; Nanofibers; Tooth Calcification
PubMed: 25800708
DOI: 10.1177/0022034515577963 -
Genes Feb 2023Dental enamel is a specialized tissue that has adapted over millions of years of evolution to enhance the survival of a variety of species. In humans, enamel evolved to... (Review)
Review
Dental enamel is a specialized tissue that has adapted over millions of years of evolution to enhance the survival of a variety of species. In humans, enamel evolved to form the exterior protective layer for the crown of the exposed tooth crown. Its unique composition, structure, physical properties and attachment to the underlying dentin tissue allow it to be a resilient, although not self-repairing, tissue. The process of enamel formation, known as amelogenesis, involves epithelial-derived cells called ameloblasts that secrete a unique extracellular matrix that influences the structure of the mineralizing enamel crystallites. There are over 115 known genetic conditions affecting amelogenesis that are associated with enamel phenotypes characterized by either a reduction of enamel amount and or mineralization. Amelogenesis involves many processes that are sensitive to perturbation and can be altered by numerous environmental stressors. Genetics, epigenetics, and environment factors can influence enamel formation and play a role in resistance/risk for developmental defects and the complex disease, dental caries. Understanding why and how enamel is affected and the enamel phenotypes seen clinically support diagnostics, prognosis prediction, and the selection of treatment approaches that are appropriate for the specific tissue defects (e.g., deficient amount, decreased mineral, reduced insulation and hypersensitivity). The current level of knowledge regarding the heritable enamel defects is sufficient to develop a new classification system and consensus nosology that effectively communicate the mode of inheritance, molecular defect/pathway, and the functional aberration and resulting enamel phenotype.
Topics: Humans; Dental Caries; Tooth; Ameloblasts; Phenotype; Dental Enamel
PubMed: 36980818
DOI: 10.3390/genes14030545 -
Journal of Dental Research Aug 2023Tooth enamel is generated by ameloblasts. Any failure in amelogenesis results in defects in the enamel, a condition known as amelogenesis imperfecta. Here, we report...
Tooth enamel is generated by ameloblasts. Any failure in amelogenesis results in defects in the enamel, a condition known as amelogenesis imperfecta. Here, we report that mice with deficient autophagy in epithelial-derived tissues ( and conditional knockout mice) exhibit amelogenesis imperfecta. Micro-computed tomography imaging confirmed that enamel density and thickness were significantly reduced in the teeth of these mice. At the molecular level, ameloblast differentiation was compromised through ectopic accumulation and activation of NRF2, a specific substrate of autophagy. Through bioinformatic analyses, we identified , , , , , and as candidate genes related to amelogenesis imperfecta and the NRF2-mediated pathway. To investigate the effects of the ectopic NRF2 pathway activation caused by the autophagy deficiency, we analyzed target gene expression and NRF2 binding to the promoter region of candidate target genes and found suppressed gene expression of , , , and but not of and . Taken together, our findings indicate that autophagy plays a crucial role in ameloblast differentiation and that its failure results in amelogenesis imperfecta through ectopic NRF2 activation.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Ameloblasts; Amelogenesis Imperfecta; X-Ray Microtomography; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Amelogenesis; Mice, Knockout; Tumor Suppressor Proteins; Repressor Proteins
PubMed: 37249312
DOI: 10.1177/00220345231169220 -
Clinical and Experimental Dental... Apr 2022We set out to investigate whether a hybrid stem-like p-EMT phenotype develops during murine molar enamel development in vivo.
OBJECTIVES
We set out to investigate whether a hybrid stem-like p-EMT phenotype develops during murine molar enamel development in vivo.
SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION
Histology specimens incorporating molar tooth buds harvested from mice at post-natal day 4 (P4) were included in our studies.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We employed double immunofluorescence staining to analyze the simultaneous expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin and the mesenchymal marker N-cadherin in histology specimens with tooth buds harvested from P4 mice. Moreover, we evaluated the expression of the core master stem cell markers Oct4 and Sox2, as well as the mature ameloblast marker amelogenin.
RESULTS
Here we document the co-expression of E-cadherin and N-cadherin in a sub-population of pre-ameloblasts in the inner enamel epithelium suggestive of the presence of a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype resulting from p-EMT. Moreover, the core stem cell factors Oct4 and Sox2 colocalized with E-cadherin expressing pre-ameloblasts, whereas the mesenchymal marker N-cadherin was expressed specifically by amelogenin-positive mature secretory ameloblasts.
CONCLUSIONS
The differentiation of E-cadherin-positive pre-ameloblasts towards N-cadherin-positive mature secretory ameloblasts transition through a previously unidentified epithelial/mesenchymal stage derived through p-EMT, co-expressing the master transcription factors Oct4 and Sox2.
Topics: Ameloblasts; Amelogenin; Animals; Cadherins; Dental Enamel; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Mice
PubMed: 35182458
DOI: 10.1002/cre2.543 -
Scientific Reports Feb 2022As the hardest tissue in the human body, tooth enamel formation is a highly regulated process involving several stages of differentiation and key regulatory genes. One...
As the hardest tissue in the human body, tooth enamel formation is a highly regulated process involving several stages of differentiation and key regulatory genes. One such gene, tryptophan-aspartate repeat domain 72 (WDR72), has been found to cause a tooth enamel defect when deleted or mutated, resulting in a condition called amelogenesis imperfecta. Unlike the canonical genes regulating tooth development, WDR72 remains intracellularly and is not secreted to the enamel matrix space to regulate mineralization, and is found in other major organs of the body, namely the kidney, brain, liver, and heart. To date, a link between intracellular vesicle transport and enamel mineralization has been suggested, however identification of the mechanistic regulators has yet to be elucidated, in part due to the limitations associated with studying highly differentiated ameloblast cells. Here we show compelling evidence that WDR72 regulates endocytosis of proteins, both in vivo and in a novel in vitro ameloblast cell line. We elucidate WDR72's function to be independent of intracellular vesicle acidification while still leading to defective enamel matrix pH extracellularly. We identify a vesicle function associated with microtubule assembly and propose that WDR72 directs microtubule assembly necessary for membrane mobilization and subsequent vesicle transport. Understanding WDR72 function provides a mechanistic basis for determining physiologic and pathologic tissue mineralization.
Topics: Ameloblasts; Amelogenesis Imperfecta; Brain; Calcification, Physiologic; Cell Differentiation; Dental Enamel; Endocytosis; Humans; Kidney; Liver; Microtubules; Myocardium; Tooth
PubMed: 35181734
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06751-1 -
Frontiers in Physiology 2022The distinct morphology adopted by ameloblasts during amelogenesis is highly stage specific and involved intimately with the development of a hierarchical enamel...
The distinct morphology adopted by ameloblasts during amelogenesis is highly stage specific and involved intimately with the development of a hierarchical enamel microstructure. The molecular mechanisms that govern the development of an elongated and polarized secretory ameloblast morphology and the potential roles played by the enamel matrix proteins in this process are not fully understood. Thus far, the models that have been developed to mimic these early cell-matrix interactions have either been unable to demonstrate direct morphological change or have failed to adapt across ameloblast cell lines. Here, we use a recently established 3D cell culture model to examine the interactions between HAT-7 cells and the major enamel matrix proteins, amelogenin and ameloblastin. We demonstrate that HAT-7 cells selectively respond to functional EMPs in culture by forming clusters of tall cells. Aspect ratio measurements from three-dimensional reconstructions reveal that cell elongation is 5-times greater in the presence of EMPs when compared with controls. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, we observe that these clusters are polarized with asymmetrical distributions of Par-3 and claudin-1 proteins. The behavior of HAT-7 cells in 3D culture with EMPs is comparable with that of ALC and LS-8 cells. The fact that the 3D model presented here is tunable with respect to gel substrate composition and ameloblast cell type highlights the overall usefulness of this model in studying ameloblast cell morphology .
PubMed: 36531170
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1069519 -
Journal of Structural Biology Dec 2021During enamel formation, the organic enamel protein matrix interacts with calcium phosphate minerals to form elongated, parallel, and bundled enamel apatite crystals of... (Review)
Review
During enamel formation, the organic enamel protein matrix interacts with calcium phosphate minerals to form elongated, parallel, and bundled enamel apatite crystals of extraordinary hardness and biomechanical resilience. The enamel protein matrix consists of unique enamel proteins such as amelogenin, ameloblastin, and enamelin, which are secreted by highly specialized cells called ameloblasts. The ameloblasts also facilitate calcium and phosphate ion transport toward the enamel layer. Within ameloblasts, enamel proteins are transported as a polygonal matrix with 5 nm subunits in secretory vesicles. Upon expulsion from the ameloblasts, the enamel protein matrix is re-organized into 20 nm subunit compartments. Enamel matrix subunit compartment assembly and expansion coincide with C-terminal cleavage by the MMP20 enamel protease and N-terminal amelogenin self-assembly. Upon enamel crystal precipitation, the enamel protein phase is reconfigured to surround the elongating enamel crystals and facilitate their elongation in C-axis direction. At this stage of development, and upon further amelogenin cleavage, central and polyproline-rich fragments of the amelogenin molecule associate with the growing mineral crystals through a process termed "shedding", while hexagonal apatite crystals fuse in longitudinal direction. Enamel protein sheath-coated enamel "dahlite" crystals continue to elongate until a dense bundle of parallel apatite crystals is formed, while the enamel matrix is continuously degraded by proteolytic enzymes. Together, these insights portrait enamel mineral nucleation and growth as a complex and dynamic set of interactions between enamel proteins and mineral ions that facilitate regularly seeded apatite growth and parallel enamel crystal elongation.
Topics: Ameloblasts; Amelogenesis; Amelogenin; Animals; Apatites; Calcium; Calcium Phosphates; Crystallization; Dental Enamel; Dental Enamel Proteins; Humans; Microscopy, Electron; Minerals
PubMed: 34748943
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2021.107809 -
Orthodontics & Craniofacial Research May 2019Enamel organ epithelium (EOE) gives rise to the major epithelial-derived cell types of tooth including the ameloblasts. The formation of enamel, termed amelogenesis,...
OBJECTIVES
Enamel organ epithelium (EOE) gives rise to the major epithelial-derived cell types of tooth including the ameloblasts. The formation of enamel, termed amelogenesis, occurs through the cytodifferentiation of ameloblasts, ultimately leading to apoptosis and necrosis of these cells with eruption. Therefore, studies regarding enamel matrix formation and bioengineering have been limited. In this study, we establish and characterize two mouse immortalized ameloblast-like cell lines using human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) E6/E7 oncogenes for the first time.
SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION
Two mouse EOE dental cell lines (EOE-2M and EOE-3M).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Isolated EOE primary cells were used to establish clonal cell lines and immortalized using the HPV16 E6/E7 gene platform. Two established cell lines were characterized by growth rate (Cell Proliferation Assay, MTS), gene (quantitative RT-PCR) and protein (immunocytochemistry) expression profiles, and mineralization potential (in situ alkaline phosphatase (ALP) histochemistry and Xylene Orange staining) in media supplemented with ascorbic acid and β-glycerophosphate. Gene and protein expression analyses included specific enamel matrix and ameloblast cell markers: Amel, Ambn, Enam, Amtn, ODAM, MMP20, Krt14 and DLX3.
RESULTS
Both cell lines were maintained in excess of 30 passages, with EOE-3M cells proliferating at a slightly higher rate. The cell lines expressed all tested enamel matrix markers and produced a mineralized ECM demonstrating an ameloblast-like profile.
CONCLUSIONS
Two mouse ameloblasts-like immortalized cell lines have been characterized that will be useful tool for studies regarding enamel bioengineering.
Topics: Ameloblasts; Amelogenesis; Animals; Cell Line; Dental Enamel; Dental Enamel Proteins; Humans; Mice; Tooth
PubMed: 31074144
DOI: 10.1111/ocr.12313