Exostosin 1 is expressed in human odontoblasts

  • Virve Pääkkönen*
  • , Stina Saraniemi
  • , Françoise Bleicher
  • , Zvi Nevo
  • , Leo Tjäderhane
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective Dental pulp is soft connective tissue maintaining the vitality of the tooth, while odontoblasts form the dentin. Our earlier DNA microarray analysis revealed expression of putative tumour suppressor exostosin 1 (EXT-1) in odontoblasts. EXT-1 is essential for heparan sulphate synthesis, which may play a role in the dentin mineralization. Since the absence of the functional EXT-1 causes bone tumours, expression in odontoblasts is interesting. Our aim was to analyse further the EXT-1 expression in human tooth. Designs DNA microarray and PCR techniques were used to study the EXT-1 expression in mature native human odontoblasts and pulp tissue as well as in newly-differentiated cultured odontoblast-like cells. Immunohistochemistry was performed to study EXT-1 protein in mature human teeth, teeth with incomplete root and developing teeth. Results Markedly higher EXT-1 was observed in mature odontoblasts than in pulp at mRNA level with DNA microarray and PCR techniques. Immunohistochemistry of mature tooth revealed EXT-1 both in odontoblasts and the predentin but not in the dentin. EXT-1 was also observed in the odontoblasts of incomplete root, but the localization of the staining was different. In developing foetal tooth, staining was detected in ameloblasts and the basal lamina. Conclusions The detection of EXT-1 in both mature and newly-differentiated cells indicates a role in the odontoblast function, and EXT-1 staining in the predentin indicates a function in the dentin formation. Detection of EXT-1 in developing teeth indicates a role in tooth development.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)175-179
Number of pages5
JournalArchives of Oral Biology
Volume80
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Aug 2017

Funding

Funders
Oulu Health Care Centre Dental Specialty Care Unit
Academy of Finland
Suomen Hammaslääkäriseura Apollonia

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