Expression patterns of glutathione peroxidases family members during tooth development

Glutathione peroxidases (GPXs) are key antioxidant enzymes that play a crucial role in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis and regulating cell fate across multiple organs. However, their involvement in tooth development remains unclear. In this study, we examined the expression patterns of GPX family members at various stages of mouse mandibular first molar development (E13.5, E14.5, E16.5, P0, P3, and P7) using qRT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining. GPX1, GPX2, GPX4, GPX7, and GPX8 were expressed with varying intensities in the dental epithelium and/or dental mesenchyme, while GPX3 was mainly detected in mesenchymal cells throughout all stages of tooth development. GPX5 and GPX6 were nearly undetectable. These findings indicate that GPX family members display distinct spatiotemporal expression patterns during tooth development. Notably, the sustained expression of GPX2, GPX4, and GPX8 in critical regions across multiple developmental stages suggests that these enzymes may be closely associated with the formation of dental tissues.