Gli1+ Periodontal Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Periodontitis

Periodontal mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a crucial role in maintaining periodontium homeostasis and in tissue repair. However, little is known about how periodontal MSCs in vivo respond under periodontal disease conditions, posing a challenge for periodontium tissue regeneration. In this study, Gli1 was used as a periodontal MSC marker and combined with a Gli1-cre ERT2 mouse model for lineage tracing to investigate periodontal MSC fate in an induced periodontitis model. Our findings show significant changes in the number and contribution of Gli1+ MSCs within the inflamed periodontium. The number of Gli1+ MSCs that contributed to periodontal ligament homeostasis decreased in the periodontitis-induced teeth. While the proliferation of Gli1+ MSCs had no significant difference between the periodontitis and the control groups, more Gli1+ MSCs underwent apoptosis in diseased teeth. In addition, the number of Gli1+ MSCs for osteogenic differentiation decreased during the progression of periodontitis. Following tooth extraction, the contribution of Gli1+ MSCs to the tooth socket repair was significantly reduced in the periodontitis-induced teeth. Collectively, these findings indicate that the function of Gli1+ MSCs in periodontitis was compromised, including reduced contribution to periodontium homeostasis and impaired injury response.

Biglycan and Decorin Expression and Distribution in Palatal Adhesion

Previous studies demonstrated that chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) on apical surfaces of palatal medial edge epithelial (MEE) cells were necessary for palatal adhesion. In this study, we identified 2 proteoglycans, biglycan and decorin, that were expressed in the palatal shelves prior to adhesion. In addition, we established that these proteoglycans were dependent on transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling. Laser capture microdissection was used to collect selected palatal epithelial cells from embryonic mouse embryos at various palate development stages. The expression of specific messenger RNA (mRNA) for biglycan and decorin was determined with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The TGFβrI kinase inhibitor (SB431542) was used in palatal organ cultures to determine if blocking TFGβ signaling changed biglycan and decorin distribution. Immunohistochemistry of both biglycan and decorin revealed expression on the apical and lateral surfaces of MEE cells. Biglycan protein and mRNA levels peaked as the palatal shelves adhered. Decorin was less abundant on the apical epithelial surface and also had reduced mRNA levels compared to biglycan. Their proteins were not expressed on MEE cells of palates treated with SB431542, an inhibitor of TGFβ signaling. The temporal expression of biglycan and decorin on the apical surface of MEE, combined with the evidence that these proteins were regulated through the TGFβ pathway, indicated that they may be important for adhesion.

The specific role of FAM20C in dentinogenesis

FAM20C is an evolutionarily reserved molecule highly expressed in mineralized tissues. Previously we demonstrated that Sox2-Cre;Fam20C(fl/fl) mice, in which Fam20C was ubiquitously inactivated, had dentin and enamel defects as well as hypophosphatemic rickets. We also showed that K14-Cre;Fam20C(fl/fl) mice, in which Fam20C was specifically inactivated in the epithelium, had enamel defects but lacked hypophosphatemia and defects in the bone and dentin. These results indicated that the enamel defects in the Sox2-Cre;Fam20C(fl/fl) mice were independent of dentin defects and hypophosphatemia. To determine if the dentin defects in the Sox2-Cre;Fam20C(fl/fl) mice were associated with the enamel defects and hypophosphatemia, we crossed Fam20C(fl/fl) mice with Wnt1-Cre and Osr2-Cre transgenic mice to inactivate Fam20C in the craniofacial mesenchymal cells that form dentin and alveolar bone. The resulting Wnt1-Cre;Fam20C(fl/fl) and Osr2-Cre;Fam20C(fl/fl) mice showed remarkable dentin and alveolar bone defects, while their enamel did not show apparent defects. The serum FGF23 levels in these mice were higher than normal but lower than those in the Sox2-Cre;Fam20C(fl/fl) mice; they developed a mild type of hypophosphatemia that did not cause major defects in long bones. These results indicate that the dentin defects in the Sox2-Cre;Fam20C(fl/fl) mice were independent of the enamel defects.