Cellular basis of accelerated whole-tooth regeneration
Teeth are ectodermal organs that have, throughout their long evolutionary history, retained the capacity for full regeneration and replacement, even in adult stages. Yet, because most mammals (e.g., humans, mice) lack lifelong dental replacement, we do not fully understand its tempo and mode, and we do not have a clear picture of the cell populations and signals that contribute to the process.…
Teeth, ectodermal organs, can regenerate fully even in adulthood, despite most mammals lacking this ability. Scientists sought to understand the tempo and mechanisms behind dental regeneration in cichlid fishes from Lake Malawi, which exhibit one-for-one tooth replacement despite varied dentitions. By comparing tooth replacement rates in these species, researchers found that the rate accelerated by three times in the half of the jaw where teeth were plucked.
Utilizing single-nucleus RNA sequencing, the team profiled cellular and molecular changes during the first week post-plucking. This revealed distinct gene expression profiles and cellular interactions across four time points, with varying roles for epithelial, mesenchymal, and immune cells. The study identified key signaling pathways—including Collagen, BMP, MMP, Semaphorin, and Slit-Robo—that played temporally sequenced roles in immune response, odontogenesis, vascularization, and nerve pathfinding during tooth regeneration.
This research offers insights into the cellular interactions involved in whole-tooth replacement and serves as a comparative foundation for understanding dental regeneration across vertebrates.
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