role of preodontoblast in tooth development

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26293435
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Orthodontics/Pediatric dentistry
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: IWAMOTO Tsutomu 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部, 教授 (90346916)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 長谷川 智一 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部, 講師 (50274668)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 前象牙芽細胞 / Pannexin / Panx3 / ATP channel

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to clarify the roles of preodontoblasts in tooth development. Here we have found that the expression of Panx3 was predominately localized in preo- dontoblasts that arise from dental papilla cells and can differentiate into dentin-secreting odontoblasts. Overexpression of Panx3 in dental mesenchymal cells reduced cell proliferation via up-regulation of p21, and promoted the BMP2-induced phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 and the expression of Dspp, a marker of differentiated odontoblasts. Furthermore, Panx3 functions ATP release into the extracellular space through its hemichannel and induced the phosphorylation of AMPK. Our results suggest that Panx3 modulates intracellular ATP levels, resulting in the inhibition of odontoblast proliferation through the AMPK/p21 signaling pathway and promotion of cell differentiation by the BMP/Smad signaling pathway.

Free Research Field

小児歯科