Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: Ameloblasts are specialized cells derived from the dental epithelium that produce enamel, a hierarchically structured tissue comprised of highly elongated hydroxylapatite (OHAp) crystallites. The unique function of the epithelial cells synthesizing crystallites and assembling them in a mechanically robust structure is not fully elucidated yet, partly due to limitations with in vitro experimental models. Herein, we demonstrate the ability to generate mineralizing dental epithelial organoids (DEOs) from adult dental epithelial stem cells (aDESCs) isolated from mouse incisor tissues. DEOs expressed ameloblast markers, could be maintained for more than five months (11 passages) in vitro in media containing modulators of Wnt, Egf, Bmp, Fgf and Notch signaling pathways, and were amenable to cryostorage. When transplanted underneath murine kidney capsules, organoids produced OHAp crystallites similar in composition, size, and shape to mineralized dental tissues, including some enamel-like elongated crystals. DEOs are thus a powerful in vitro model to study mineralization process by dental epithelium, which can pave the way to understanding amelogenesis and developing regenerative therapy of enamel.
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,690
Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Northwestern University, National Research Foundation, Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, National Research Foundation of Korea, National Institutes of Health, Office of Science, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Division of Materials Research, Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems, Argonne National Laboratory
Awards: G102163711, G107546177, G1169090945, NNCI: Soft Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource, G1313983767, G1664757510, G1860631916, G2233802770, G2287611682, G2295483553, Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), G262962599, G2917695480, G2999596104, G3010471893, G3075337988, G3454132534, G3589692066, G3954585026, G4285583887, G4289625387, G4513252971, MRSEC: Center for Multifunctional Materials, G4912152698, G4958141111, G498139845, G513797252, G5218300437, G5607048534, Kidney Therapeutics: Translating Discoveries into Prevention, Treatment and Cures for Kidney Diseases, G6417405991, G6540817556, G6848031779, G6918803902, G7461832402, Enamel atlas: systems-level amelogenesis tools at multiple scales, G8567773382, G969889393, G993149817
OpenAlex ID: W4389451957