Klf6 Promoted Odontoblast Differentiation Via Regulation of Cell Cycle

Objectives: To investigate molecular mechanism of Klf6 during murine tooth development and odontoblastic differentiation.
Methods: Klf6 expression pattern was examined during murine tooth development in vivo by immunohistochemistry and in odontoblastic differentiation in vitro by RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. Co-expression of Klf6 with Cyclin D1 was analyzed using double fluorescent immunohistochemistry. Overexpression of Klf6 induced dental papilla mesenchymal cell differentiation and mineralization was detected by ALP and Alizard red s assays. Differential miRNAs expression of Klf6 overexpression in Idp3 was screened by RNA sequencing.
Results: Klf6 protein was expressed in the enamel organ and the underlying mesenchyme, ameloblasts and odontoblasts at early and later stages of murine molar formation. Expression of Klf6 and Cyclin D1 was significantly elevated in the process of mouse dental papilla mesenchymal differentiation and mineralization. Furthermore, Klf6 is co-expressed with Cyclin D1 within nucleus in mouse dental papilla mesenchymal cells and murine tooth, respectively. Overexpression of Klf6 increased the expression of Cyclin D1 and promoted dental papilla mesenchymal cell differentiation and mineralization.
Conclusions: Our results suggested Klf6 play a pivotal role in odontoblast differentiation via mediating Cyclin D1 expression during dentinogenesis.