Gene brings teeth in shape

Through the means of signaling pathways cells react to signals from their environment. One of the most important signalling pathways is the Notch signalling pathway. It is evolutionary conserved to a very high degree and it is involved in the development of all organs and tissues in animal and human embryos. The Notch signaling pathway enables neighboring cells to adopt different fates. By this mechanism signals exchanged via Notch receptors between neighboring cells control formation, development and differentiation of organs. Similarly, formation and differentiation of teeth is controlled by Notch signalling.

The research team of Thimios Mitsiadis, Professor for Oral Biology at the University of Zurich, has now shown that in mice the Jagged2 gene is required for the healthy development of teeth. Inactivation of this gene interrupts the Notch signalling pathway resulting in serious tooth malformations: The tooth crowns of the molars were deformed, additional cusps were formed. In incisors cell growth and enamel formation was blocked.

Bioteeth: one aim of stem-cell research

Understanding the Notch signalling pathway and knowing the genes that direct form and shape of tissues is important for many areas of biology. Within the field of dentistry these findings make an important contribution to our knowledge, particularly for the field of stem cell research, as Mitsiadis points out. Because there, the aim is to use the potential of stem cells not only for tooth repair, but ultimately for the generation of completely new teeth, called bioteeth. Therefore we require the knowledge of the precise genetic mechanisms that control tooth shape. To generate a new tooth whose shape suits a patient's individual requirements is not possible today. A combined solution, however, is already thinkable with our current knowledge, Mitsiadis explains: "A combination of stem cells with an artificial scaffold could constitute a solution for this problem."