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Use of Trowell-Type Organ Culture to Study Regulation of Dental Stem Cells
Published on: July 8, 2021
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Dental Epithelial Stem Cells Express the Developmental Regulator Meis1
Maria Sanz-Navarro1,2, Irene Delgado3, Miguel Torres3
1Helsinki Institute of Life Science, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Frontiers in Physiology
|March 28, 2019
Summary
MEIS1 (Meis homeobox 1) is newly found in mouse incisor stem cells, crucial for development. While not essential for tooth initiation, MEIS1 may play a role in adult incisor renewal.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- MEIS1 (Meis homeobox 1) is a key developmental regulator involved in stem cell maintenance.
- The murine incisor is a model for adult stem cell research, but MEIS1's role in teeth was unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and role of MEIS1 in tooth development and adult stem cell niches.
- To compare MEIS1 and MEIS2 expression and function in dental and other developing tissues.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of MEIS1 and MEIS2 expression patterns in murine tooth development using immunohistochemistry.
- Study of MEIS1 function in tooth renewal using MEIS1-null allele mice.
Main Results:
- MEIS1 expression in the tooth is restricted to the epithelial compartment, specifically the labial cervical loop stem cell niche.
- MEIS1 is coexpressed with SOX2 and Pbx1 in dental epithelial stem cells.
- MEIS2 expression differs from MEIS1 and is absent in dental epithelial stem cells.
- MEIS1 is not essential for tooth initiation but may be involved in adult incisor renewal.
Conclusions:
- MEIS1 is a novel regulator of the mouse incisor epithelial stem cell niche.
- MEIS1 and MEIS2 exhibit distinct expression patterns and likely have different functions in tooth development.
- MEIS1 may be important for the maintenance and renewal of adult incisor stem cells.
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