CD 95 mediated apoptosis in embryogenesis: implication in tooth development

INTRODUCTION

Understanding of apoptotic mechanisms involved in tissue shaping is of particular interest because of possible targeted modulation of the development of organ structures such as teeth. Research of CD 95 mediated apoptosis has been focused particularly on cell death in the immune system and related disorders. However, CD 95 mediated apoptosis is also involved in embryogenesis of many organs as the kidney, the lung, the intestine and tissue networks such as the nervous system.

DESIGN

Narrative review.

RESULTS

This review briefly summarizes the current knowledge of CD 95 mediated apoptosis in embryogenesis with possible implication in tooth development. CD 95 receptor and CD 95 ligand are found at early stages of tooth development. The data suggest some positive correlations with dental apoptosis distribution, particularly in the primary enamel knot where apoptosis occurs during elimination of this structure. CD 95 deficient (lpr) adult mouse tooth phenotype, however, did not show any alterations in final tooth pattern and morphology.

CONCLUSION

To date studies of apoptotic machinery during tooth development show spatial localization of many of the components together with precise and localized timing of cell death. There is still much to be learned about the regulation and importance of apoptosis in tooth development. Nevertheless, the involvement of apoptotic regulatory mechanisms interplaying with other molecules participates to the cellular cross-talk in developing tissues, which opens possible targeted modulations as suggested, e.g. for future molecular dentistry.

Characterisation of the genomic structure of chick Fgf8

The Fgf8 gene encodes a series of secreted signalling molecules important in the normal development of the face, brain and limbs. The genomic structure of the chick Fgf8 gene has been analysed and compared to the human and mouse sequences. Divergence between the chick, human and mouse genomic structure was observed. Data indicates that the long alternatively spliced form of exon 1b observed in mouse and exon 1c observed in human and mouse do not exist in the chick Fgf8 gene. RT-PCR analysis indicates that chick Fgf8, like its mouse and human counterpart is alternatively spliced. This data along with the genomic structure data indicates that in the chick there are only two isoforms of Fgf8. This is in contrast to the human and mouse, where evidence suggests that there are 4 and 8 isoforms, respectively. Approximately 400 bp of intron 1d is highly conserved between chick, human and mouse genomic sequences. Using TRANSFAC possible conserved regulatory element binding sites within this domain were identified.

Regeneration of teeth using stem cell-based tissue engineering

Tooth autotransplantation, allotransplantation and dental implants have existed for many years, but have never been totally satisfactory. Thus, the development of new methods of tooth replacement has become desirable, and with the increasing knowledge of stem cell biology becomes a realistic possibility. Stem cell-based tissue engineering involving the recapitulation of the embryonic environment demonstrates that dental, non-dental, embryonic and adult stem cells can contribute to teeth formation in the appropriate setting. Evidence that stem cell populations may be present in human teeth provides the opportunity to consider biological tooth replacement 'new for old'.

Barx1 and evolutionary changes in feeding

During mouse embryonic development, the Barx1 homeobox gene is expressed in the mesenchymal cells of molar teeth and stomach. During early stages of molar development, Barx1 has an instructive role, directing the as yet undetermined ectomesenchymal cells in the proximal region of the jaws to follow a multicuspid tooth developmental pathway. We review here recent results showing an absence of stomach tissue in Barx1 mutant mice. The data strongly suggest that in the presumptive stomach mesenchyme Barx1 acts to attenuate Wnt signalling allowing digestive tract endoderm to differentiate into a highly specialized stomach epithelium. In the light of these new data, we discuss the possibility that evolutionary changes in the Barx1 gene could have simultaneously altered the dentition and the digestive system, therefore positioning Barx1 as a key gene in the evolution of mammals.

Molar tooth development in caspase-3 deficient mice

Tooth morphogenesis is accompanied by apoptotic events which show restricted temporospatial patterns suggesting multiple roles in odontogenesis. Dental apoptosis seems to be caspase dependent and caspase-3 has been shown to be activated during dental apoptosis.Caspase-3 mutant mice on different genetic backgrounds were used to investigate alterations in dental apoptosis and molar tooth morphogenesis. Mouse embryos at E15.5 were analyzed to reveal any changes in enamel knots, which are transient structures eliminated by apoptosis. In caspase-3(-/-) mice on the B57BL/6 background, disorganization of the epithelium was found in the original primary enamel knot area and confirmed by altered expression of Shh. Despite this early defect in molar tooth development, these mutants showed correct formation of secondary enamel knots as indicated by Fgf-4 expression. Analyses of adult molar teeth did not reveal any major alterations in tooth shape, enamel structure or pattern when compared to heterozygote littermates. In caspase-3(-/-) mice on the 129X1/SvJ background, no defects in tooth development were found except the position of the upper molars which developed more posteriorly in the oral cavity. This is likely, however, to be a secondary defect caused by a physical squashing of the face by the malformed brain. The results suggest that although caspase-3 becomes activated and may be essential for dental apoptosis, it does not seem fundamental for formation of normal mineralised molar teeth.

An aneuploid mouse strain carrying human chromosome 21 with Down syndrome phenotypes

Aneuploidies are common chromosomal defects that result in growth and developmental deficits and high levels of lethality in humans. To gain insight into the biology of aneuploidies, we manipulated mouse embryonic stem cells and generated a trans-species aneuploid mouse line that stably transmits a freely segregating, almost complete human chromosome 21 (Hsa21). This "transchromosomic" mouse line, Tc1, is a model of trisomy 21, which manifests as Down syndrome (DS) in humans, and has phenotypic alterations in behavior, synaptic plasticity, cerebellar neuronal number, heart development, and mandible size that relate to human DS. Transchromosomic mouse lines such as Tc1 may represent useful genetic tools for dissecting other human aneuploidies.

Contribution of nuclear and extranuclear polyQ to neurological phenotypes in mouse models of Huntington's disease

In postmortem Huntington's disease brains, mutant htt is present in both nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments. To dissect the impact of nuclear and extranuclear mutant htt on the initiation and progression of disease, we generated a series of transgenic mouse lines in which nuclear localization or nuclear export signal sequences have been placed N-terminal to the htt exon 1 protein carrying 144 glutamines. Our data indicate that the exon 1 mutant protein is present in the nucleus as part of an oligomeric or aggregation complex. Increasing the concentration of the mutant transprotein in the nucleus is sufficient for and dramatically accelerates the onset and progression of behavioral phenotypes. Furthermore, nuclear exon 1 mutant protein is sufficient to induce cytoplasmic neurodegeneration and transcriptional dysregulation. However, our data suggest that cytoplasmic mutant exon 1 htt, if present, contributes to disease progression.

Expression and regulation of the Msx1 natural antisense transcript during development

Bidirectional transcription, leading to the expression of an antisense (AS) RNA partially complementary to the protein coding sense (S) RNA, is an emerging subject in mammals and has been associated with various processes such as RNA interference, imprinting and transcription inhibition. Homeobox genes do not escape this bidirectional transcription, raising the possibility that such AS transcription occurs during embryonic development and may be involved in the complexity of regulation of homeobox gene expression. According to the importance of the Msx1 homeobox gene function in craniofacial development, especially in tooth development, the expression and regulation of its recently identified AS transcripts were investigated in vivo in mouse from E9.5 embryo to newborn, and compared with the S transcript and the encoded protein expression pattern and regulation. The spatial and temporal expression patterns of S, AS transcripts and protein are consistent with a role of AS RNA in the regulation of Msx1 expression in timely controlled developmental sites. Epithelial–mesenchymal interactions were shown to control the spatial organization of S and also AS RNA expression during early patterning of incisors and molars in the odontogenic mesenchyme. To conclude, this study clearly identifies the Msx1 AS RNA involvement during tooth development and evidences a new degree of complexity in craniofacial developmental biology: the implication of endogenous AS RNAs.

Organized tooth-specific cellular differentiation stimulated by BMP4

Mammalian teeth develop on the oral surface of the first pharyngeal arch by a series of reciprocal interactions between epithelial and mesenchymal cells. The embryonic first pharyngeal arch oral epithelium is able to induce tooth formation when combined with mesenchymal cells from the second pharyngeal arch, a region devoid of tooth development. Second pharyngeal arch mesenchyme is thus competent to form teeth if provided with the correct signals. First-arch oral epithelium expresses several signaling molecules that could be potential inducers of tooth development, including BMP4. The addition of BMP4 to intact second-arch explants resulted in the development of organized structures containing layers of cells that express marker genes of tooth-specific cells, odontoblasts and ameloblasts. Thus, although overt tooth development did not occur, BMP4 has the ability to stimulate organized differentiation of epithelial- and mesenchymal-derived dental-specific cells from non-dental primordia.

Dissecting the genetic complexity of human 6p deletion syndromes by using a region-specific, phenotype-driven mouse screen

Monosomy of the human chromosome 6p terminal region results in a variety of congenital malformations that include brain, craniofacial, and organogenesis abnormalities. To examine the genetic basis of these phenotypes, we have carried out an unbiased functional analysis of the syntenic region of the mouse genome (proximal Mmu13). A genetic screen for recessive mutations in this region recovered thirteen lines with phenotypes relevant to a variety of clinical conditions. These include two loci that cause holoprosencephaly, two that underlie anophthalmia, one of which also contributes to other craniofacial abnormalities such as microcephaly, agnathia, and palatogenesis defects, and one locus responsible for developmental heart and kidney defects. Analysis of heterozygous carriers of these mutations shows that a high proportion of these loci manifest with behavioral activity and sensorimotor deficits in the heterozygous state. This finding argues for the systematic, reciprocal phenotypic assessment of dominant and recessive mouse mutants. In addition to providing a resource of single gene mutants that model 6p-associated disorders, the work reveals unsuspected genetic complexity at this region. In particular, many of the phenotypes associated with 6p deletions can be elicited by mutation in one of a number of genes. This finding implies that phenotypes associated with contiguous gene deletion syndromes can result not only from dosage sensitivity of one gene in the region but also from the combined effect of monosomy for multiple genes that function within the same biological process.

The stomach mesenchymal transcription factor Barx1 specifies gastric epithelial identity through inhibition of transient Wnt signaling

Inductive interactions between gut endoderm and the underlying mesenchyme pattern the developing digestive tract into regions with specific morphology and functions. The molecular mechanisms behind these interactions are largely unknown. Expression of the conserved homeobox gene Barx1 is restricted to the stomach mesenchyme during gut organogenesis. Using recombinant tissue cultures, we show that Barx1 loss in the mesenchyme prevents stomach epithelial differentiation of overlying endoderm and induces intestine-specific genes instead. Additionally, Barx1 null mouse embryos show visceral homeosis, with intestinal gene expression within a highly disorganized gastric epithelium. Barx1 directs mesenchymal cell expression of two secreted Wnt antagonists, sFRP1 and sFRP2, and these factors are sufficient replacements for Barx1 function. Canonical Wnt signaling is prominent in the prospective gastric endoderm prior to epithelial differentiation, and its inhibition by Barx1-dependent signaling permits development of stomach-specific epithelium. These results define a transcriptional and signaling pathway of inductive cell interactions in vertebrate organogenesis.

The Ectodysplasin and NFkappaB signalling pathways in odontogenesis

Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is a congenital disorder affecting organs of ectodermal origin including teeth, hair and sweat glands. Defects in Ectodysplasin (tabby), Edar (downless) and Edar associated death domain (Edaradd) (crinkled) cause HED in both humans and mice. Ectodysplasin is a tumour necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily member whose downstream signalling is transduced by the inhibitor of kappaB kinase (IKK) complex and inhibitors of kappaB (IkappaB) to activate the transcription factor NFkappaB. NFkappaB signalling is involved in a wide range of cellular processes and at each stage the different family members must be tightly regulated for each function. Recent data have demonstrated the importance of this signalling pathway in odontogenesis, particularly in the formation of cusps. Here we review recent advances in our understanding of Ectodysplasin/NFkappaB signalling in tooth development and in particular the central role of the IKK complex.

Expression of the Hedgehog antagonists Rab23 and Slimb/betaTrCP during mouse tooth development

The sonic hedgehog signalling peptide has been demonstrated to play an important role in the growth and patterning of several organs including the tooth. Inappropriate activation of Shh signalling in the embryo causes various patterning defects and complex regulation of this pathway is important during normal development. A growing list of diverse antagonists have been identified that restrict Shh signalling in the embryo, however, only Ptc1, Gas1 and Hip1 have been studied during tooth development. We have examined the expression pattern of the putative antagonists Rab23 and Slimb/betaTrCP during early murine odontogenesis and find that these molecules are expressed in the developing tooth. Interestingly, Rab23 demonstrates contrasting expression domains in the incisor and molar dentition during the cap stage, being restricted to the mesenchymal compartment of molar teeth and the epithelium of the enamel knot in incisor teeth. These findings provide the first evidence of distinct regulatory pathways for Shh in teeth of different classes.

TNF signalling in tooth development

Mammalian tooth development has served as an excellent model system to investigate the intricate, interactive mechanisms of patterning, morphogenesis and cytodifferentiation during organogenesis. Teeth develop from interactions between epithelium and neural crest-derived (ecto)mesenchyme that are largely mediated by ligand-receptor signalling. It is well-established that signalling molecules of the Bmp, Fgf, Wnt and Hedgehog families, are involved at multiple stages of tooth development. Recently, however, a specific role for molecules belonging to the TNF-family of ligands in tooth morphogenesis has been identified, suggesting that this pathway, acting to activate NF-kappaB, has played an important role in the development and evolution of tooth number and shape.

Tissue engineering of teeth using adult stem cells

Tooth development, a process which occurs in the developing embryo, involves the reciprocal and sequential signalling between epithelial and mesenchymal tissue of the developing first branchial arch. The oral epithelium produces the first inductive signals for odontogenesis at around E10.0, which trigger off a cascade of events that result in the formation of a tooth. We have engineered a tooth in vitro by harnessing the basic principles of odontogenesis and the inductive capability of the oral epithelium of the developing embryo. We replaced the mesenchymal portion of the developing mandibular primordium with aggregates of stem cells from embryos as well as stem cells taken from adult mice. The cell aggregates were covered with embryonic epithelium from E10.0 mouse embryos to form recombinant explants. In vitro culture of these recombinant explants resulted in the induction of early tooth marker genes in the cell aggregates, indicating that the cells were able to respond to the odontogenic signals produced by the oral epithelium. In vivo culture of explants resulted in the induction of Dspp within the cell aggregates indicating that tooth tissue was present. Three recombinant explants, where the cell aggregates consisted of adult bone marrow cells, produced teeth. To determine whether the oral cavity would be able to sustain the growth of an implanted tooth germ, E14.5 molar rudiments were implanted into the diastema region of the maxilla of adult mice. The resulting teeth appeared to be normal in size and were connected to the underlying bone. These experiments are an indication that it is possible to induce odontogenesis and engineer a tooth using adult cells of non-dental origin. They also indicate that developing tooth germs could be successfully implanted into the gingiva of patients.

Neural crest contribution to mammalian tooth formation

The cranial neural crest cells, which are specialized cells of neural origin, are central to the process of mammalian tooth development. They are the only source of mesenchyme able to sustain tooth development, and give rise not only to most of the dental tissues, but also to the periodontium, the surrounding tissues that hold teeth in position. Tooth organogenesis is regulated by a series of interactions between cranial neural crest cells and the oral epithelium. In the development of a tooth, the epithelium covering the inside of the developing oral cavity provides the first instructive signals. Signaling molecules secreted by the oral epithelium 1) establish large cellular fields competent to form a specific tooth shape (mono- or multicuspid) along a proximodistal axis; 2) define an oral (capable of forming teeth) and non-oral mesenchyme along a rostrocaudal axis; and 3) position the sites of future tooth development. The critical information to model tooth shape resides later in the neural crest-derived mesenchyme. Cranial neural crest cells ultimately differentiate into highly specialized cell types to produce mature dental organs. Some cranial neural crest cells located in the dental pulp, however, maintain plasticity in their developmental potential up to postnatal life, offering new prospects for regeneration of dental tissues.

Cell lineage of primary and secondary enamel knots

Recent research indicates that control of cusp morphology involves a signalling center at the heart of the developing tooth germ, known as the enamel knot. The primary enamel knot forms in both incisors and molar tooth germs at the cap stage of tooth development. Secondary and tertiary enamel knots only develop in molar tooth germs. These sit at the sites of future cusp tips from the early bell stage of tooth development. In studies describing the relationship between the primary and secondary enamel knots, it is often assumed that there is a cellular continuity between these structures, such that cells from the primary enamel knot physically contribute to the secondary enamel knots. We have devised a method whereby the developing tooth germ can be cultured in frontal slices with the enamel knot visible. The fate of the primary enamel knot cells can then be followed by 1,1', di-octadecyl-3,3,3',3',-tetramethylindo-carbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) labeling. Using this method, no cells of the primary enamel knot were seen to move toward the developing secondary enamel knots. Thus, although the primary and secondary enamel knots have a close molecular and functional relationship in molar development, they are not actually derived from the same cells.

Hierarchy revealed in the specification of three skeletal fates by Sox9 and Runx2

Across vertebrates, there are three principal skeletal tissues: bone, persistent cartilage, and replacement cartilage. Although each tissue has a different evolutionary history and functional morphology, they also share many features. For example, they function as structural supports, they are comprised of cells embedded in collagen-rich extracellular matrix, and they derive from a common embryonic stem cell, the osteochondroprogenitor. Occasionally, homologous skeletal elements can change tissue type through phylogeny. Together, these observations raise the possibility that skeletal tissue identity is determined by a shared set of genes. Here, we show that misexpression of either Sox9 or Runx2 can substitute bone with replacement cartilage or can convert persistent cartilage into replacement cartilage and vice versa. Our data also suggest that these transcription factors function in a molecular hierarchy in which chondrogenic factors dominate. We propose a binary molecular code that determines whether skeletal tissues form as bone, persistent cartilage, or replacement cartilage. Finally, these data provide insights into the roles that master regulatory genes play during evolutionary change of the vertebrate skeleton.

Regionalisation of early head ectoderm is regulated by endoderm and prepatterns the orofacial epithelium

The oral epithelium becomes regionalised proximodistally early in development, and this is reflected by the spatial expression of signalling molecules such as Fgf8 and Bmp4. This regionalisation is responsible for regulating the spatial expression of genes in the underlying mesenchyme. These genes are required for the spatial patterning of bone, cartilage orofacial development and, in mammals, teeth. The mechanism and timing of this important regionalisation during head epithelium development are not known. Using lipophilic dyes to fate map the oral epithelium in chick embryos, we show that the cells that will occupy the epithelium of the distal and the proximal mandible primordium already occupy different spatial locations in the developing head ectoderm prior to the formation of the first pharyngeal arch and neural crest migration. Moreover, the ectoderm cells fated to become proximal oral epithelium express Fgf8 and this expression requires the presence of endoderm. Thus, the first fundamental patterning process in jaw morphogenesis is controlled by the early separation of specific areas of ectoderm that are regulated by ectoderm-endoderm interactions, and does not involve neural crest cells.

Stem-cell-based tissue engineering of murine teeth

Teeth develop from reciprocal interactions between mesenchyme cells and epithelium, where the epithelium provides the instructive information for initiation. Based on these initial tissue interactions, we have replaced the mesenchyme cells with mesenchyme created by aggregation of cultured non-dental stem cells in mice. Recombinations between non-dental cell-derived mesenchyme and embryonic oral epithelium stimulate an odontogenic response in the stem cells. Embryonic stem cells, neural stem cells, and adult bone-marrow-derived cells all responded by expressing odontogenic genes. Transfer of recombinations into adult renal capsules resulted in the development of tooth structures and associated bone. Moreover, transfer of embryonic tooth primordia into the adult jaw resulted in development of tooth structures, showing that an embryonic primordium can develop in its adult environment. These results thus provide a significant advance toward the creation of artificial embryonic tooth primordia from cultured cells that can be used to replace missing teeth following transplantation into the adult mouth.

Restriction of sonic hedgehog signalling during early tooth development

The signalling peptide encoded by the sonic hedgehog gene is restricted to localised thickenings of oral epithelium, which mark the first morphological evidence of tooth development, and is known to play a crucial role during the initiation of odontogenesis. We show that at these stages in the murine mandibular arch in the absence of epithelium, the Shh targets Ptc1and Gli1 are upregulated in diastema mesenchyme, an edentulous region between the sites of molar and incisor tooth formation. This ectopic expression is not associated with Shh transcription but with Shh protein, undetectable in the presence of epithelium. These findings suggest that, in diastema mesenchyme, restriction of Shh activity is dependent upon the overlying epithelium. This inhibitory activity was demonstrated by the ability of transplanted diastema epithelium to downregulate Ptc1 in tooth explants, and for isolated diastema mesenchyme to express Ptc1. A candidate inhibitor in diastema mesenchyme is the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked membrane glycoprotein Gas1. Gas1is normally expressed throughout mandibular arch mesenchyme; however, in the absence of epithelium this expression was downregulated specifically in the diastema where ectopic Shh protein was identified. Although Shh signalling has no effect upon Gas1 expression in mandibular arch mesenchyme,overexpression of Gas1 results in downregulation of ectopic Ptc1. Therefore, control of the position of tooth initiation in the mandibular arch involves a combination of Shh signalling at sites where teeth are required and antagonism in regions destined to remain edentulous.

Intergenic enhancers with distinct activities regulate Dlx gene expression in the mesenchyme of the branchial arches

The vertebrate Dlx genes, generally organized as tail-to-tail bigene clusters, are expressed in the branchial arch epithelium and mesenchyme with nested proximodistal expression implicating a code that underlies the fates of jaws. Little is known of the regulatory architecture that is responsible for Dlx gene expression in developing arches. We have identified two distinct cis-acting regulatory sequences, I12a and I56i, in the intergenic regions of the Dlx1/2 and Dlx5/6 clusters that act as enhancers in the arch mesenchyme. LacZ transgene expression containing I12a is restricted to a subset of Dlx-expressing ectomesenchyme in the first arch. The I56i enhancer is active in a broader domain in the first arch mesenchyme. Expression of transgenes containing either the I12a or the I56i enhancers is dependent on the presence of epithelium between the onset of their expression at E9-10 until independence at E11. Both enhancers positively respond to FGF8 and FGF9; however, the responses of the reporter transgenes were limited to their normal domain of expression. BMP4 had a negative effect on expression of both transgenes and counteracted the effects of FGF8. Furthermore, bosentan, a pharmacological inhibitor of Endothelin-1 signaling caused a loss of I56i-lacZ expression in the most distal aspects of the expression domain, corresponding to the area of Dlx-6 expression previously shown to be under the control of Endothelin-1. Thus, the combinatorial branchial arch expression of Dlx genes is achieved through interactions between signaling pathways and intrinsic cellular factors. I56i drives the entire expression of Dlx5/6 in the first arch and contains necessary sequences for regulation by at least three separate pathways, whereas I12a only replicates a small domain of endogenous expression, regulated in part by BMP-4 and FGF-8.

The activation level of the TNF family receptor, Edar, determines cusp number and tooth number during tooth development

Mutations in members of the ectodysplasin (TNF-related) signalling pathway, EDA, EDAR, and EDARADD in mice and humans produce an ectodermal dysplasia phenotype that includes missing teeth and smaller teeth with reduced cusps. Using the keratin 14 promoter to target expression of an activated form of Edar in transgenic mice, we show that expression of this transgene is able to rescue the tooth phenotype in Tabby (Eda) and Sleek (Edar) mutant mice. High levels of expression of the transgene in wild-type mice result in molar teeth with extra cusps, and in some cases supernumerary teeth, the opposite of the mutant phenotype. The level of activation of Edar thus determines cusp number and tooth number during tooth development.