Exploiting teeth as a model to study basic features of signaling pathways.
Teeth constitute a classical model for the study of signaling pathways and their roles in mediating interactions between cells and tissues in organ development, homeostasis and regeneration. Rodent teeth are mostly used as experimental models. Rodent molars have proved fundamental in the study of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions and embryonic organ morphogenesis, as well as to faithfully model human diseases affecting dental tissues. The continuously growing rodent incisor is an excellent tool for the investigation of the mechanisms regulating stem cells dynamics in homeostasis and regeneration. In this review, we discuss the use of teeth as a model to investigate signaling pathways, providing an overview of the many unique experimental approaches offered by this organ. We discuss how complex networks of signaling pathways modulate the various aspects of tooth biology, and the models used to obtain this knowledge. Finally, we introduce new experimental approaches that allow the study of more complex interactions, such as the crosstalk between dental tissues, innervation and vascularization.
['Pagella|Pierfrancesco|P|', 'Porcheri|Cristina|C|', 'Mitsiadis|Thimios A|TA|']
D000818:Animals D018929:Cell Culture Techniques D002454:Cell Differentiation D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition D015316:Genetic Therapy D005854:Germ Cells D006706:Homeostasis D006801:Humans D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells D051379:Mice D023421:Models, Animal D009024:Morphogenesis D051381:Rats D012038:Regeneration D015398:Signal Transduction D013234:Stem Cells D014070:Tooth
signaling pathways stem cells tooth developmental biology epithelial–mesenchymal interactions experimental embryology