IADR Abstract Archives
Mouse Molar and Incisor Organoids: Innovative Tools for Regenerative Medicine
Objectives: Worldwide, tooth loss, typically a consequence of oral or congenital disease or traumatic injury, is an important health problem, commonly treated by implantation of synthetic materials. Despite recent research efforts using different stem cells and biomaterials, complete regeneration of dental tissues is not yet possible. Being able to induce tooth regeneration with biological material, preferentially of biological origin, would resolve most of the limitations of current treatments based on synthetic components. Organoids, self-organizing stem cell-derived three-dimensional in vitroreconstructions of an organ, provide a powerful strategy to meet this objective.
Methods: Here, we embarked on the establishment of mouse tooth organoids as a tool to explore tooth biology and regeneration.
Results: We were able to establish organoids from early-postnatal mouse molars and incisors. The organoids were found long-term expandable, at present for more than 10 passages. Gene expression and immunostaining analyses revealed the presence of multiple dental markers, including amelogenin (AMELX). In addition, known dental epithelial stem cell markers (such as SOX2) were detected in the tooth organoids suggesting a prominent stemness character. Currently, we are testing the differentiation capacity of the molar- and incisor-derived organoids using in vitro and in vivo approaches. In fact, we have already obtained an improved in vitro protocol resulting in drastic increases in AMELX and ODAM, both at the gene and protein level.
Conclusions: Eventually, our study will help to unravel molecular and cellular aspects of tooth development, as well as of dental stem cell biology, in the end instrumental for pursuing tooth regenerative replacement therapy.
Methods: Here, we embarked on the establishment of mouse tooth organoids as a tool to explore tooth biology and regeneration.
Results: We were able to establish organoids from early-postnatal mouse molars and incisors. The organoids were found long-term expandable, at present for more than 10 passages. Gene expression and immunostaining analyses revealed the presence of multiple dental markers, including amelogenin (AMELX). In addition, known dental epithelial stem cell markers (such as SOX2) were detected in the tooth organoids suggesting a prominent stemness character. Currently, we are testing the differentiation capacity of the molar- and incisor-derived organoids using in vitro and in vivo approaches. In fact, we have already obtained an improved in vitro protocol resulting in drastic increases in AMELX and ODAM, both at the gene and protein level.
Conclusions: Eventually, our study will help to unravel molecular and cellular aspects of tooth development, as well as of dental stem cell biology, in the end instrumental for pursuing tooth regenerative replacement therapy.