This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Sarkar, L. Articles by Sharpe, P.T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sarkar, L. Articles by Sharpe, P.T. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Hazardous Substances DB CYSTEINE Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Inhibition of Wnt Signaling by Exogenous Mfrzbl Protein Affects Molar Tooth Size

Department of Craniofacial Development, GKT Dental Institute, Kings College, Floor 28, Guy's Hospital, London Bridge, London SE1 9RT, UK

P.T. Sharpe

Department of Craniofacial Development, GKT Dental Institute, Kings College, Floor 28, Guy's Hospital, London Bridge, London SE1 9RT, UK

Wnt extracellular signaling molecules have essential roles as regulators of cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions involved in tissue morphogenesis. Frizzled integral membrane proteins have been shown to function as receptors for Wnt signaling molecules. Vertebrates also produce secreted proteins related to Frizzled receptors, Frizzled-related proteins (FRPs), which contain the cysteine-rich domain of Frizzleds and appear to function as Wnt antagonists. Tooth development is regulated by a reciprocal series of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, and many Wnt signaling pathway genes are expressed in the developing tooth at these sites. Here we report the expression of one FRP gene, Mfrzbl, in the rostral mesenchyme of the mandibular primordium. Using explant cultures, we show that expression of Mfrzbl in the mandibular mesenchyme is under the control of signals derived from the overlying epithelium. Bead implantation experiments in vitro show that FGF8 induces Mfrzbl expression, whereas BMP4 and SHH proteins have no effect. We studied the effect of ectopic MFrzbl protein on the developing tooth germs by transplanting explants treated with Mfrzbl protein into renal capsules, and found it to retard tooth development. This suggests that Wnt signaling is required early in tooth germ formation and that interference with signaling via addition of an antagonist results in retarded development and formation of smaller teeth.

Key Words: Wnts • frizzled • tooth development • Mfrzbl

Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 79, No. 4, 920-925 (2000)
DOI: 10.1177/00220345000790040601


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. C. Yelick and T. F. Schilling MOLECULAR DISSECTION OF CRANIOFACIAL DEVELOPMENT USING ZEBRAFISH Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, July 1, 2002; 13(4): 308 - 322. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. R. Dhore, J. P.M. Cleutjens, E. Lutgens, K. B.J.M. Cleutjens, P. P.M. Geusens, P. J.E.H.M. Kitslaar, J. H.M. Tordoir, H. M.H. Spronk, C. Vermeer, and M. J.A.P. Daemen Differential Expression of Bone Matrix Regulatory Proteins in Human Atherosclerotic Plaques Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, December 1, 2001; 21(12): 1998 - 2003. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]