Study on mechanisms of odontoblasts processes formation and dentin development

我们设计了一套真实的实时成像系统，用于肌动蛋白启动子GFP转基因小鼠的牙胚培养切片中。利用该技术，我们可以捕捉到牙乳头中间充质细胞的分裂和运动，并显示成牙本质细胞突起的形成。本研究采用小鼠切牙器官培养和小鼠牙间充质细胞系培养的方法，研究了Rho相关激酶（ROCK）在成牙本质细胞分化中的作用。ROCK抑制剂和ROCK siRNA抑制细胞质膜上的肌动蛋白聚合和E-cadherin表达。ROCK通过调节成牙本质细胞分化过程中的细胞骨架和细胞粘附，在维持细胞极化中发挥重要作用。成牙本质细胞表达釉原蛋白、MMP抑制剂和MMP。这些因素在牙本质管的维护中起着重要的作用。

We designed the real time imaging system in a slice tooth germ culture of actin promoter GFP transgenic mouse. Using the technique, we could capture the cell division and movement of mesenchymal cells in the dental papilla and demonstrate the formation of odontoblasts processes. We examined the role of Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) in odontoblasts differentiation using an organ culture of mouse incisor and mouse dental mesenchaml cell line. ROCK inhibitors and ROCK siRNA inhibited actin polymerization and E-cadherin expression on the cytoplasmic membrane. ROCK plays an important role in maintenance of cellular polarization through regulations of cytoskeleton and cell adhesion in the odontoblasts differentiation. Odotoblasts expressed the amelogenin, MMP inhibitors and MMP. Our data suggested that these factors play an important role in the maintenance of dentin canal.