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Updated: Jan 10, 2026

Isolation and Culture of Dental Epithelial Stem Cells from the Adult Mouse Incisor
Published on: May 1, 2014
Autocrine ECM molecules establish MSC quiescence during incisor development by disrupting WNT ligand trafficking
Zexi Chen1,2, Meilian Cai2,3, Yuling Wang2
1Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Abstract:
Stem cells support homeostasis and injury repair of adult organs. It remains unclear when and how adult stem cells form during development. Here, we discover that incisor mesenchymal stem cells, marked by an extracellular matrix molecule Smoc2, establish their identity and quiescence between E14.5 and E16.5, and persist into adulthood. They support both embryonic tooth development and postnatal organ turnover. Concurrently, the incisor mesenchyme evolves from a homogenous dental papilla into a heterogeneous dental pulp consisting of a complete lineage hierarchy, which persists into adulthood. Smoc2 and its homologous molecule Smoc1 are indispensable for maintaining the quiescence and hierarchy of mesenchymal stem cells. They function by disrupting the binding between canonical WNT ligands and glypican, a process critical for transporting hydrophobic WNT ligands within the aqueous niche. In conclusion, mesenchymal stem cells establish their quiescence during development through autocrine extracellular matrix molecules to keep canonical WNT ligands from accessing them.
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