Fate of HERS during tooth root development

Dev Biol. 2009 Oct 1;334(1):22-30. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.06.034. Epub 2009 Jul 1.

Abstract

Tooth root development begins after the completion of crown formation in mammals. Previous studies have shown that Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS) plays an important role in root development, but the fate of HERS has remained unknown. In order to investigate the morphological fate and analyze the dynamic movement of HERS cells in vivo, we generated K14-Cre;R26R mice. HERS cells are detectable on the surface of the root throughout root formation and do not disappear. Most of the HERS cells are attached to the surface of the cementum, and others separate to become the epithelial rest of Malassez. HERS cells secrete extracellular matrix components onto the surface of the dentin before dental follicle cells penetrate the HERS network to contact dentin. HERS cells also participate in the cementum development and may differentiate into cementocytes. During root development, the HERS is not interrupted, and instead the HERS cells continue to communicate with each other through the network structure. Furthermore, HERS cells interact with cranial neural crest derived mesenchyme to guide root development. Taken together, the network of HERS cells is crucial for tooth root development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Dental Sac / physiology
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology*
  • Epithelial Cells / physiology
  • Female
  • Integrases / genetics
  • Integrases / metabolism
  • Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Odontogenesis
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Sialoglycoproteins / genetics
  • Sialoglycoproteins / metabolism
  • Tooth Root / cytology
  • Tooth Root / growth & development*
  • Wnt1 Protein / genetics
  • Wnt1 Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Ibsp protein, mouse
  • Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein
  • Sialoglycoproteins
  • Wnt1 Protein
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases