Elucidate the regulational mechanism of tooth bud formation

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24390441
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Dental engineering/Regenerative dentistry
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: NAKAMURA TAKASHI 東北大学, 歯学研究科(研究院), 准教授 (90585324)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SAKAI Takayoshi 大阪大学, 歯学研究科(大学院), 教授 (90379082) ; SAITO Masahiro 東北大学, 歯学研究科(大学院), 教授 (40215562)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): FUKUMOTO Satoshi 東北大学, 歯学研究科(大学院), 教授 (30264253)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 歯 / 上皮 / エピプロフィン / 細胞増殖 / Transit Amplifying cells / Notch / 運命決定 / 分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The final goal of this study is to elucidate the molecular mechanism of the regulation in the number of teeth by novel transcription factor Epiprofin in tooth germ formation and development. Our analysis of Epfn KO mice revealed that Epiprofin promotes the transitory cell proliferative activities in keratinocyte as well as dental epithelial cells. In Epfn KO mice, keratinocytes and dental epithelial cells keep migrating into dental mesenchyme due to the decrease of proliferation activity and apoptosis of cells. In addition, Epfn contributes to activate the cell proliferation of Transit Amplifying cells produced from stem cells through Notch signaling. Furthermore Epfn exerts a critical role in cell fate determination of dental epithelial cells and epithelial stem cells.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学