Essential Roles of Ameloblastin in Maintaining Ameloblast Differentiation and Enamel Formation

Vol. 181, No. 3-4, 2005

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Paper

Essential Roles of Ameloblastin in Maintaining Ameloblast Differentiation and Enamel Formation
Satoshi Fukumoto^a, Aya Yamada^a, Kazuaki Nonaka^a, Yoshihiko Yamada^b

^aSection of Pediatric Dentistry, Division of Oral Health, Growth and Development, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan;
^bCraniofacial Developmental Biology and Regeneration Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Cells Tissues Organs 2005;181:189-195 (DOI: 10.1159/000091380)

Key Words

Ameloblastin
Amelogenin
Enamel matrix protein

Abstract

During tooth development, dental epithelial cells interact with extracellular matrix components, such as the basement membrane and enamel matrix. Ameloblastin, an enamel matrix protein, plays a crucial role in maintaining the ameloblast differentiation state and is essential for enamel formation. Ameloblastin-null mice developed severe enamel hypoplasia. In mutant mice, dental epithelial cells started to differentiate into ameloblasts, but ameloblasts soon lost cell polarity, proliferated, and formed multiple cell layers, indicative of some aspects of preameloblast phenotypes. In addition, the expression of amelogenin, another component of the enamel matrix, was specifically reduced in mutant ameloblasts. More than 20% of amelobastin-null mice developed odontogenic tumors. We also found that recombinant ameloblastin specifically bound to ameloblasts and inhibited proliferation of dental epithelial cells. These results suggest that ameloblastin is an important regulator to maintain the differentiation state of ameloblasts.

Author Contacts

Satoshi Fukumoto, DDS
Section of Pediatric Dentistry, Division of Oral Health, Growth and Development
Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku
Fukuoka 812-8582 (Japan)
Tel. +81 92 642 6401, Fax +81 95 849 6468, E-Mail fukumoto@dent.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Article Information

Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 4, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 39

Medline Abstract (ID 16612084)

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