The primary cilium as a dual sensor of mechanochemical signals in chondrocytes

The primary cilium is an immotile, solitary, and microtubule-based structure that projects from cell surfaces into the extracellular environment. The primary cilium functions as a dual sensor, as mechanosensors and chemosensors. The primary cilia coordinate several essential cell signaling pathways that are mainly involved in cell division and differentiation. A primary cilium malfunction can result in several human diseases. Mechanical loading is sense by mechanosensitive cells in nearly all tissues and organs. With this sensation, the mechanical signal is further transduced into biochemical signals involving pathways such as Akt, PKA, FAK, ERK, and MAPK. In this review, we focus on the fundamental functional and structural features of primary cilia in chondrocytes and chondrogenic cells

Involvement of laminin and integrins in adhesion and migration of junctional epithelium cells

Background and Objective: The junctional epithelium attaches to the enamel surface with hemidesmosomes (of which laminin-5 and integrin- α6β4 are the main components) in the internal basal lamina. Laminin-5 is also involved in cell motility with integrin-α3β1, although their functions have not yet been clarified. The purpose of this study was to determine the functions of those adhesive components between the tooth and the junctional epithelium during cell migration. Because an idea has been proposed that directly attached to tooth cells (DAT cells) may not contribute to cell migration, 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine staining was performed to confirm cell migration. Material and Methods: We investigated laminin-γ2 (contained only in laminin-5), integrin-β4 (involved in cell-extracellular matrix contact) and integrin-α3 (inducing cell migration) in the junctional epithelium, oral gingival epithelium and gingival sulcus epithelium of 6-wk-old ICR mice using laser microdissection, quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence and 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine staining. Results: Laminin and integrins were clearly immunolocalized in the basal lamina of all epithelium. Quantitative analysis of laminin and integrin mRNAs by laser microdissection showed that they were more highly expressed in DAT cells than in basal cells in the oral gingival epithelium. In particular, a 12-fold higher expression of laminin-5 was observed in the junctional epithelium compared with the oral gingival epithelium. 5-Bromo-2-deoxyuridine staining showed rapid coronal migration of DAT cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that the abundant expression of laminin-5 and integrin-α6β4 is involved in the attachment of DAT cells to teeth by hemidesmosomes. Abundant expression of laminin-5 and integrin-α3β1 might assist in DAT cell migration, confirmed by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine staining during the turnover of junctional epithelium. © 2008 The Authors.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Sulfotransferase Ndst1 is Needed for Mandibular and TMJ Development

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HS-PGs) regulate several developmental processes, but their possible roles in mandibular and TMJ formation are largely unclear. To uncover such roles, we generated mice lacking Golgi-associated N-sulfotransferase 1 (Ndst1) that catalyzes sulfation of HS-PG glycosaminoglycan chains. Ndst1-null mouse embryos exhibited different degrees of phenotypic penetrance. Severely affected mutants lacked the temporomandibular joint and condyle, but had a mandibular remnant that displayed abnormal tooth germs, substandard angiogenesis, and enhanced apoptosis. In mildly affected mutants, the condylar growth plate was dysfunctional and exhibited thicker superficial and polymorphic cell zones, a much wider distribution of Indian hedgehog signaling activity, and ectopic ossification along its lateral border. Interestingly, mildly affected mutants also exhibited facial asymmetry resembling that seen in individuals with hemifacial microsomia. Our findings indicate that Ndst1-dependent HS sulfation is critical for mandibular and TMJ development and allows HS-PGs to exert their roles via regulation of Ihh signaling topography and action