Bone morphogenetic protein 7 induces cementogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) is a multifunctional differentiation factor that belongs to the transforming growth factor superfamily. BMP-7 induces gene expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase-like, member A/cementum attachment protein (PTPLA/CAP) and cementum protein 1 (CEMP1), both of which are markers of cementoblasts and cementocytes. In the previous study, we reported that BMP-7 treatment enhanced PTPLA/CAP and CEMP1 expression in both normal and immortal human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the gene expression of these molecules, in this study, we identified a functional transcription activator binding region in the promoter region of PTPLA/CAP and CEMP1 that is responsive to BMP signals. Here, we report that some short motifs termed GC-rich Smad-binding elements (GC-SBEs) that are located in the human PTPLA/CAP promoter and CEMP1 promoter are BMP-7 responsive as analyzed with luciferase promoter assays. On the other hand, we found that transcription of Sp7/Osterix and PTPLA/CAP was up-regulated after 1 week of BMP-7 treatment on purified normal human PDL cells as a result of gene expression microarray analysis. Furthermore, transcription of Sp7/Osterix, runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was up-regulated after 2 weeks of BMP-7 treatment, whereas gene expression of osteo/odontogenic markers such as integrin-binding sialoprotein (IBSP), collagen, type I, alpha 1 (COL1A1), dentin matrix acidic phosphoprotein 1 (DMP1), and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) was not up-regulated in purified normal or immortal human PDL cells as a result of qRT-PCR. The results suggest that BMP-7 mediates cementogenesis via GC-SBEs in human PDL cells and that its molecular mechanism is different from that for osteo/odontogenesis.

Development of craniofacial structures in transgenic mice with constitutively active PTH/PTHrP receptor.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) regulate calcium homeostasis, and PTHrP further regulates growth and development. A transgenic mouse carrying the constitutively active PTH/PTHrP receptor (HKrk-H223R) under the control of the mouse bone and odontoblast-specific alpha1(I) collagen promoter (Col1-caPPR) has been developed to demonstrate the complex actions of this mutant receptor in hard tissue formation. We have further characterized Col1-caPPR mice abnormalities in the craniofacial region as a function of development. Col1-caPPR mice exhibited a delay in embryonic bone formation, followed by expansion of a number of craniofacial bones including the maxilla and mandible, delay in tooth eruption and teratosis, and a disrupted temporomandibular joint (TMJ). These findings suggest that the Col1-caPPR mouse is a useful model for characterization of the downstream effects of the constitutively active receptor during development and growth, and as a model for development of treatments of human diseases with similar characteristics.

Comparison of stem-cell-mediated osteogenesis and dentinogenesis.

The difference between stem-cell-mediated bone and dentin regeneration is not yet well-understood. Here we use an in vivo stem cell transplantation system to investigate differential regulation mechanisms of bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSSCs) and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Elevated expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9, gelatinase B) was found to be associated with the formation of hematopoietic marrow in BMSSC transplants, but not in the connective tissue of DPSC transplants. The expression of dentin sialoprotein (DSP) specifically marked dentin synthesis in DPSC transplants. Moreover, DPSCs were found to be able to generate reparative dentin-like tissue on the surface of human dentin in vivo. This study provided direct evidence to suggest that osteogenesis and dentinogenesis mediated by BMSSCs and DPSCs, respectively, may be regulated by distinct mechanisms, leading to the different organization of the mineralized and non-mineralized tissues.

The Dentin matrix protein 1 (Dmp1) is specifically expressed in mineralized, but not soft, tissues during development.

Dentin Matrix Protein 1 (Dmp1) was originally identified from dentin. However, its expression and function in vivo are not clear. To clarify these two issues, we have generated mice carrying a truncated Dmp1 gene by using gene targeting to replace exon 6 with a lacZ gene. Northern blot analysis shows the expected 5.8-kb Dmp1-lacZ fusion transcript and loss of the wild-type 2.8-kb Dmp1 transcript, confirmed by a lack of immunostaining for the protein. Using heterozygous animals, we demonstrate that Dmp1 is specific for mineralized tissues. Not previously shown, Dmp1 is also expressed in pulp cells. Dmp1-deficient embryos and newborns display no apparent gross abnormal phenotype, although there are a modest expansion of the hypertrophic chondrocyte zone and a modest increase in the long bone diameter. This suggests that DMP1 is not essential for early mouse skeletal or dental development.