Molecular mechanisms of NF-kB in regulating stem cells

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26293421
• 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: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Ohazama Atsushi 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 教授 (40266169)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 前田 健康 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 教授 (40183941) ; 井上 佳世子 (野澤佳世子) 新潟大学, 医歯(薬)学総合研究科, 准教授 (90303130) ; 河野 芳朗 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 助教 (60303129)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 歯の発生 / 幹細胞 / NF-kB

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κ B) signaling plays critical roles in many physiological and pathological processes, including regulating organogenesis. It has been shown that NF-κB signaling regulate tooth development from initiation to the late stage. The roles of NF-κB signaling in regulating dental stem cells, however, are not fully understood. Our results using mice overexpressing IKKβ, an essential component of the NF-κ B pathway, under keratin 5 promoter suggested that over-activation of NF-kB signaling lead to supernumerary incisors by abnormal Wnt signaling activity and apoptosis in embryonic lower incisor tooth epithelium. Excess NF-κB activity thus induces an ectopic odontogenesis program that is usually suppressed under physiological conditions. NF-kB signaling is also found to control homeostasis of stem cell in the cervical loop, which is regulated by different molecular mechanisms from those in embryonic tooth germ.

Free Research Field

発生生物学