Wnt Signaling from Gli1-expressing Apical Stem/progenitor Cells is Essential For the Coordination of Tooth Root Development

Overview

Journal Stem Cell Reports

Publisher Cell Press

Specialty Cell Biology

Date 2023 Mar 17

PMID 36931279

Authors

Rupali Lav

Jan Krivanek

Neal Anthwal

Abigail S Tucker

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Stem cell regulation plays a crucial role during development and homeostasis. Here, an essential source of Wnts from Gli1 stem/progenitor cells was identified in the murine molar. Loss of Wnt production in Gli1 apical stem/progenitor cells led to loss of Axin2 at the root apex, mis-regulation of SOX9, loss of BMP and Hh signaling, and truncation of root development. In the absence of Wnt signals, the root epithelium lost its integrity and epithelial identity. This phenotype could be partially mimicked by loss of Sox9 in the Gli1 population. Stabilization of Wnt signaling in the apical papilla led to rapid unordered differentiation of hard tissues and fragmentation of the epithelial root sheath. Wnt signaling from Gli1 stem/progenitor cells, therefore, orchestrates root development, coordinating mesenchymal and epithelial interactions via SOX9 to regulate stem/progenitor cell expansion and differentiation. Our results demonstrate that disparate stem/progenitor cell populations are unified in their fundamental signaling interactions.

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