Wnt signaling from Gli1-expressing apical stem/progenitor cells is essential for the coordination of tooth root development

TY - JOUR

T1 - Wnt signaling from Gli1-expressing apical stem/progenitor cells is essential for the coordination of tooth root development

AU - Lav, Rupali

AU - Krivanek, Jan

AU - Anthwal, Neal

AU - Tucker, Abigail S.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors

PY - 2023/4/11

Y1 - 2023/4/11

N2 - Stem cell regulation plays a crucial role during development and homeostasis. Here, an essential source of Wnts from Gli1+ stem/progenitor cells was identified in the murine molar. Loss of Wnt production in Gli1+ apical stem/progenitor cells led to loss of Axin2 at the root apex, mis-regulation of SOX9, loss of BMP and Hh signaling, and truncation of root development. In the absence of Wnt signals, the root epithelium lost its integrity and epithelial identity. This phenotype could be partially mimicked by loss of Sox9 in the Gli1 population. Stabilization of Wnt signaling in the apical papilla led to rapid unordered differentiation of hard tissues and fragmentation of the epithelial root sheath. Wnt signaling from Gli1+ stem/progenitor cells, therefore, orchestrates root development, coordinating mesenchymal and epithelial interactions via SOX9 to regulate stem/progenitor cell expansion and differentiation. Our results demonstrate that disparate stem/progenitor cell populations are unified in their fundamental signaling interactions.

AB - Stem cell regulation plays a crucial role during development and homeostasis. Here, an essential source of Wnts from Gli1+ stem/progenitor cells was identified in the murine molar. Loss of Wnt production in Gli1+ apical stem/progenitor cells led to loss of Axin2 at the root apex, mis-regulation of SOX9, loss of BMP and Hh signaling, and truncation of root development. In the absence of Wnt signals, the root epithelium lost its integrity and epithelial identity. This phenotype could be partially mimicked by loss of Sox9 in the Gli1 population. Stabilization of Wnt signaling in the apical papilla led to rapid unordered differentiation of hard tissues and fragmentation of the epithelial root sheath. Wnt signaling from Gli1+ stem/progenitor cells, therefore, orchestrates root development, coordinating mesenchymal and epithelial interactions via SOX9 to regulate stem/progenitor cell expansion and differentiation. Our results demonstrate that disparate stem/progenitor cell populations are unified in their fundamental signaling interactions.

KW - development

KW - Hh signaling

KW - homeostasis

KW - Sox9

KW - stem cells

KW - tooth defects

KW - tooth development

KW - Wnt signaling

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85151541773&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.02.004

DO - 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.02.004

M3 - Article

C2 - 36931279

AN - SCOPUS:85151541773

SN - 2213-6711

VL - 18

SP - 1015

EP - 1029

JO - Stem cell reports

JF - Stem cell reports

IS - 4

ER -