The Role of Sonic Hedgehog Signaling and Fibroblast Growth Factors in Tooth Development in Mice

Cell-based therapy combined with tissue stem cells and tissue-engineering technology is believed to be a very powerful tool for regeneration of the tooth root and periodontal tissue in the future. The molecular mechanism of tooth root development is useful for this therapy ; however, not enough basic information has been accumulated about tooth root development. Reciprocal epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, polarized growth and complicated morphogenic events are involved in tooth development. Recently, a Sonic hedgehog (Shh) -fibroblast growth factor (Fgfs) -dependent regulatory mechanism was found in the developing tooth roots, in a previous report that dental tissues had zone polarizing activity (ZPA) in the chick limb bud. Shh-Fgfs morphogenetic signaling is conserved in the developing molar tooth roots, but a unique combination of Fgfs is used for molar tooth root development compared to the limb bud patterning process.