The expression and function of Smad7 during human tooth germ development / 华西口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the temporal and spatial expression of Smad7 during human tooth germ development and evaluate the effect of Smad7 on tooth germ development.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of Smad7 and its changes at different stages of human tooth germ were detected by using immunohistochemical staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Smad7 was expressed at all stages of tooth germ, but the distribution patterns at various stages were different. It indicated that temporal and spatial expressing mode of Smad7 during human tooth germ development was specific, which was similar to that of TGF-beta its signal transducer Smad2/3.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Smad7 might play an important role in TGF-beta intracellular signaling for modulating the differentiation of ameloblasts and odontoblasts.</p>