Molecular morphological examination about the formation of processes in the osteoblasts and odontoblasts

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24592771
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Morphological basic dentistry
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: MIYAZAKI Toshihiro 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(歯学系), 准教授 (10174161)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MORIISHI Takeshi 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(歯学系), 助教 (20380983) ; BABA Tomomi 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(歯学系), 助教 (60189727)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KOMORI Toshihisa 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(歯学系), 教授 (00252677)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: タウ蛋白質 / 象牙芽細胞 / Runx2 / マイクロアレイ / 免疫組織化学 / 細胞分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study is to examine the mechanism of the formation of processes in the osteoblasts and odontoblasts. We have demonstrated using microarray and Real-time PCR analyses that microtubule-associated protein tau (Mapt), a neuronal phosphoprotein, is highly expressed in wild-type mouse molars but its expression is severely reduced in Tg(Col1a1-Runx2) mouse molars, in which odontoblasts lose their characteristic polarized morphology including a long process extending to dentin. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis showed that Mapt was exclusively localized in terminally differentiated odontoblasts including their processes in wild-type molars and was ultrastructurally present around the α-tubulin-positive filamentous structures. This result indicates that Mapt may be an important factor for odontoblast morphogenesis and is a useful marker protein for evaluating the terminal differentiation of odontoblasts in mice.

Free Research Field

口腔組織学