Hedgehog signaling regulates the generation of ameloblast progenitors in the continuously growing mouse incisor Journal Article


Authors: Seidel, K.; Ahn, C. P.; Lyons, D.; Nee, A.; Ting, K.; Brownell, I.; Cao, T.; Carano, R. A. D.; Curran, T.; Schober, M.; Fuchs, E.; Joyner, A.; Martin, G. R.; De Sauvage, F. J.; Klein, O. D.
Article Title: Hedgehog signaling regulates the generation of ameloblast progenitors in the continuously growing mouse incisor
Abstract: In many organ systems such as the skin, gastrointestinal tract and hematopoietic system, homeostasis is dependent on the continuous generation of differentiated progeny from stem cells. The rodent incisor, unlike human teeth, grows throughout the life of the animal and provides a prime example of an organ that rapidly deteriorates if newly differentiated cells cease to form from adult stem cells. Hedgehog (Hh) signaling has been proposed to regulate self-renewal, survival, proliferation and/or differentiation of stem cells in several systems, but to date there is little evidence supporting a role for Hh signaling in adult stem cells. We used in vivo genetic lineage tracing to identify Hh-responsive stem cells in the mouse incisor and we show that sonic hedgehog (SHH), which is produced by the differentiating progeny of the stem cells, signals to several regions of the incisor. Using a hedgehog pathway inhibitor (HPI), we demonstrate that Hh signaling is not required for stem cell survival but is essential for the generation of ameloblasts, one of the major differentiated cell types in the tooth, from the stem cells. These results therefore reveal the existence of a positive-feedback loop in which differentiating progeny produce the signal that in turn allows them to be generated from stem cells.
Keywords: signal transduction; controlled study; nonhuman; cell proliferation; mouse; animal; cytology; metabolism; animals; mice; animal tissue; cell survival; gene expression; embryo; sonic hedgehog protein; animal experiment; hedgehog proteins; embryo development; cell renewal; in vivo study; adult stem cells; cell differentiation; physiology; animalia; stem cell; regeneration; growth, development and aging; drug antagonism; progeny; epithelium cell; epithelial cells; rodentia; ameloblast; erinaceidae; adult stem cell; shh protein, mouse; tooth development; hedgehog; incisor; ameloblasts
Journal Title: Development
Volume: 137
Issue: 22
ISSN: 0950-1991
Publisher: Company of Biologists  
Date Published: 2010-11-01
Start Page: 3753
End Page: 3761
Language: English
DOI: 10.1242/dev.056358
PUBMED: 20978073
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC3049275
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 1" - "Export Date: 20 April 2011" - "CODEN: DEVPE" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Alexandra L Joyner
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