Revealing the complexity of mesenchymal stem cell niche of continuously growing teeth
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2022 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| Citation | |
| Description | The continuous growth of mouse incisor is fully dependent on the activity of epithelial and mesenchymal stem cell niches positioned in the apical area of the tooth. Unlike the dental epithelium, in which the stem cell niche is spatially limited, the situation in the dental mesenchyme is far more complicated. Although several distinct types and sources of dental mesenchymal stem cells have been described, the general consensus about their dynamics and mechanisms regulating their activity has still not been resolved. Here we present a new population of rare quiescent mesenchymal stem cells in teeth. These unprecedently spatially restricted mesenchymal stem cells give rise to different mesenchymal cell types in teeth, including pulp cells and odontoblasts. Using scRNA-seq and lineage tracing we have uncovered their differentiation potential in the healthy and damaged teeth. Moreover, we show on the cellular and molecular levels, how this unique population of stem cells is able to react to the induced injury. Finally, we also suggest that they have a wider differentiation potential than expected. Taken together, this work provides new insight into the level of complexity of the dental mesenchyme and demonstrates new ways in which continuously growing teeth can respond to a changing outer environment. |
| Related projects: |