Departmental Papers (Dental)

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of this Version

3-2011

Publication Source

Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine

Volume

40

Issue

3

Start Page

235

Last Page

242

DOI

10.1111/j.1600-0714.2010.00940.x

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Amelogenins are highly conserved proteins secreted by ameloblasts in the dental organ of developing teeth. These proteins regulate dental enamel thickness and structure in humans and mice. Mice that express an amelogenin transgene with a P70T mutation (TgP70T) develop abnormal epithelial proliferation in an amelogenin null (KO) background. Some of these cellular masses have the appearance of proliferating stratum intermedium, which is the layer adjacent to the ameloblasts in unerupted teeth. As Notch proteins are thought to constitute the developmental switch that separates ameloblasts from stratum intermedium, these signaling proteins were evaluated in normal and proliferating tissues.

METHODS

Mandibles were dissected for histology and immunohistochemistry using Notch I antibodies. Molar teeth were dissected for western blotting and RT-PCR for evaluation of Notch levels through imaging and statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Notch I was immunolocalized to ameloblasts of TgP70TKO mice, KO ameloblasts stained, but less strongly, and wild-type teeth had minimal staining. Cells within the proliferating epithelial cell masses were positive for Notch I and had an appearance reminiscent of calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor with amyloid-like deposits. Notch I protein and mRNA were elevated in molar teeth from TgP70TKO mice.

CONCLUSION

Expression of TgP70T leads to abnormal structures in mandibles and maxillae of mice with the KO genetic background and these mice have elevated levels of Notch I in developing molars. As cells within the masses also express transgenic amelogenins, development of the abnormal proliferations suggests communication between amelogenin producing cells and the proliferating cells, dependent on the presence of the mutated amelogenin protein.

Copyright/Permission Statement

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: [Chen, X., Li, Y., Alawi, F., Bouchard, J. R., Kulkarni, A. B., & Gibson, C. W. (2011). An amelogenin mutation leads to disruption of the odontogenic apparatus and aberrant expression of Notch I. Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine : Official Publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology, 40(3), 235–242. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0714.2010.00940.x], which has been published in final form at [http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0714.2010.00940.x]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.

Keywords

abnormal proliferation, amelogenin, dental enamel, Notch I, null and transgenic mice

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Date Posted: 01 March 2022

This document has been peer reviewed.