Spatiotemporal expression of fibroblast growth factor 4 and 10 during the morphogenesis of deciduous molars in miniature pigs

Yingxin Wang; Yuanyuan Shi; Lingxiao Wang; Junji Xu; Zhaochen Shan; Zhenhua Gao

doi:10.1016/j.archoralbio.2023.105795

Spatiotemporal expression of fibroblast growth factor 4 and 10 during the morphogenesis of deciduous molars in miniature pigs

Arch Oral Biol. 2023 Nov:155:105795. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2023.105795. Epub 2023 Aug 20.

Authors

Yingxin Wang¹, Yuanyuan Shi¹, Lingxiao Wang¹, Junji Xu², Zhaochen Shan¹, Zhenhua Gao³

Affiliations

¹ Outpatient Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
² Laboratory of Tissue Regeneration and Immunology and Department of Periodontics, School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
³ Outpatient Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China. Electronic address: zhenhua_gao@ccmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37619487
DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2023.105795

Abstract

Objective: Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play pivotal roles in mediating interactions between dental epithelium and mesenchyme throughout tooth initiation and morphogenesis. This study aimed to elucidate the roles of FGF4 and FGF10 in the regulation of tooth development.

Design: In this study, we investigated spatiotemporal expression patterns of FGF4 and FGF10 in the third deciduous molars (DM3) of miniature pigs at the cap, early bell, and late bell stages. Pregnant miniature pigs were obtained, and the samples were processed for histological staining. Non-radioactive in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and real-time PCR were used to detect mRNA and protein expression levels of FGF4 and FGF10.

Results: FGF4 was expressed in the dental epithelium and mesenchyme at the cap stage. At the early bell stage, epithelial expression of FGF4 was reduced while mesenchymal expression got stronger. At the late bell stage, the FGF4 expression was restricted to the inner enamel epithelium (IEE) and differentiating odontoblasts. FGF10 was expressed intensely in both epithelium and mesenchyme at the cap stage. The expression of FGF10 was concentrated in the secondary enamel knots and surrounding mesenchyme at the early bell stage. FGF10 was weakly detected in the IEE by the late bell stage.

Conclusions: Our results indicated that FGF4 and FGF10 might have partially redundant functions in regulating epithelium morphogenesis. FGF4 may be involved in regulatory signaling cascades mediating interactions between the epithelium and mesenchyme. In addition, the downregulation of FGF10 expression may be associated with the cessation of mesenchymal cell proliferation and initiation of preodontoblast polarization.

Keywords: Dental epithelium; Dental mesenchyme; FGF10; FGF4; Miniature pig; Tooth development.