Identification of odontogenic mesenchymal stem cell-inducing factors and application to tooth regeneration

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09920
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57020:Oral pathobiological science-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Wada Hiroko 九州大学, 歯学研究院, 助教 (70380706)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 清島 保 九州大学, 歯学研究院, 教授 (20264054) ; 藤井 慎介 九州大学, 歯学研究院, 講師 (60452786) ; 長谷川 佳那 九州大学, 歯学研究院, 助教 (30793989)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 歯の再生 / 器官培養 / 間葉細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, to stably obtain odontogenic stem cells useful for tooth regeneration using the organ germ method, we aimed to identify candidate inducers of odontogenic mesenchymal stem cells using microRNA-seq analysis and to clarify how they are involved in tooth morphogenesis. As a result, we detected Smoc1, a factor highly expressed in dental papilla cells, and Tmem100 and Igfbp3, factors highly expressed in dental follicle cells. These factors showed stage-specific temporal and spatial expression patterns in the mouse tooth germ development. In addition, we indicated that Smoc1 might be involved in differentiation of odontoblasts in both mouse dental pulpal cell line and mouse tooth germ.

Free Research Field

口腔病理学分野

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、歯原性間葉細胞に高発現する因子の同定とそれらの因子から選出したSmoc1とTmem100およびIgfbp3が歯の形態形成に深く関わっていることを明らかにした。特に、Smoc1が象牙芽細胞の分化に関与するという報告は、今までになく生物学的な意義があるだけでなく、器官原器法による歯の再生治療を含めた新規治療法の開発が期待され、社会的意義も大きいと考えられる。