Elucidation of the function and molecular regulation of Foxc1 in tooth germ mesenchyme -Application to tooth germ development using iPS cells-

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18775
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57070:Developmental dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Yoshida Michiko 東北大学, 歯学研究科, 助教 (80746818)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Foxc1 / 歯胚発生

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome, caused by Foxc1 defects, is associated with congenital absence and malformation of teeth. Therefore, Foxc1 is presumed to be important for tooth development, but its function is unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that Foxc1 is a transcription factor that regulates tooth germ development, and analyzed the function and molecular regulation of Foxc1 in tooth germ development, focusing on its interrelationship with Gli2. As a result, it was revealed that Foxc1 is expressed in dental mesenchymal cells, is involved in proliferation and differentiation, and physically binds to Gli2.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Foxc1の異常に起因するAxenfeld-Rieger症候群では、歯の先天欠如や形態異常が認められるが、歯の発生におけるFoxc1の発現、機能、および分子制御は不明である。本研究により、Foxc1は歯の発生過程において主に歯性間葉細胞に発現し、Gli2との相互関係により、歯胚間葉の増殖および分化に関与し歯の発生を促すことが推測された。これらの知見に基づき、今後さらに歯胚発生におけるFoxc1を基軸とした新規分子制御が解明されれば、未だ全容の明らかでない先天性の歯の発生異常の病因解明につながることが期待される。