Genes affecting tooth morphogenesis

The development of dentition is a fascinating process that encompasses a complex series of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions involving growth factors, transcription factors, signal receptors and other soluble morphogens. It is not surprising that such a complex process is prone to disturbances and may result in tooth agenesis. Initial discoveries indicating that the homeo-domain protein MSX1 and the paired-domain transcription factor PAX9 are causative genes in tooth morphogenesis were made in mice. Both genes are co-expressed in dental mesenchyme and either one, when homozygously deleted, results in an arrest at an early developmental stage. Heterozygous Pax9 or Msx1 mice have normal teeth, however, double heterozygous Pax9/Msx1 mice show a phenotype of arrested tooth development which can be rescued by transgenic expression of Bmp4, a very influential signaling factor in many developmental processes. We have obtained mounting evidence for a partnership between PAX9 and MSX1 within the tooth-specific Bmp4 signaling pathway. In humans, unlike in mice, a heterozygous mutation in either PAX9 or MSX1 suffices to cause tooth agenesis of a predominantly molar or more premolar pattern, respectively. Our laboratory and others have identified several PAX9 and MSX1 mutations in families with non-syndromic forms of autosomal dominant posterior tooth agenesis. We have also identified families with tooth agenesis in whom PAX9 and MSX1 mutations have been excluded opening up the possibilities for the discovery of other genes that contribute to human tooth agenesis.