Retinoic Acid Excess Impairs Amelogenesis Inducing Enamel Defects.

Abnormalities of enamel matrix proteins deposition, mineralization, or degradation during tooth development are responsible for a spectrum of either genetic diseases termed Amelogenesis imperfecta or acquired enamel defects. To assess if environmental/nutritional factors can exacerbate enamel defects, we investigated the role of the active form of vitamin A, retinoic acid (RA). Robust expression of RA-degrading enzymes Cyp26b1 and Cyp26c1 in developing murine teeth suggested RA excess would reduce tooth hard tissue mineralization, adversely affecting enamel. We employed a protocol where RA was supplied to pregnant mice as a food supplement, at a concentration estimated to result in moderate elevations in serum RA levels. This supplementation led to severe enamel defects in adult mice born from pregnant dams, with most severe alterations observed for treatments from embryonic day (E)12.5 to E16.5. We identified the enamel matrix proteins enamelin (Enam), ameloblastin (Ambn), and odontogenic ameloblast-associated protein (Odam) as target genes affected by excess RA, exhibiting mRNA reductions of over 20-fold in lower incisors at E16.5. RA treatments also affected bone formation, reducing mineralization. Accordingly, craniofacial ossification was drastically reduced after 2 days of treatment (E14.5). Massive RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on E14.5 and E16.5 lower incisors. Reductions in Runx2 (a key transcriptional regulator of bone and enamel differentiation) and its targets were observed at E14.5 in RA-exposed embryos. RNA-seq analysis further indicated that bone growth factors, extracellular matrix, and calcium homeostasis were perturbed. Genes mutated in human AI (ENAM, AMBN, AMELX, AMTN, KLK4) were reduced in expression at E16.5. Our observations support a model in which elevated RA signaling at fetal stages affects dental cell lineages. Thereafter enamel protein production is impaired, leading to permanent enamel alterations.journal article20162017 01 06importe

Enamel and dental anomalies in latent-transforming growth factor beta-binding protein 3 mutant mice.

Latent-transforming growth factor beta-binding protein 3 (LTBP-3) is important for craniofacial morphogenesis and hard tissue mineralization, as it is essential for activation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). To investigate the role of LTBP-3 in tooth formation we performed micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), histology, and scanning electron microscopy analyses of adult Ltbp3-/- mice. The Ltbp3-/- mutants presented with unique craniofacial malformations and reductions in enamel formation that began at the matrix formation stage. Organization of maturation-stage ameloblasts was severely disrupted. The lateral side of the incisor was affected most. Reduced enamel mineralization, modification of the enamel prism pattern, and enamel nodules were observed throughout the incisors, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. Molar roots had internal irregular bulbous-like formations. The cementum thickness was reduced, and microscopic dentinal tubules showed minor nanostructural changes. Thus, LTBP-3 is required for ameloblast differentiation and for the formation of decussating enamel prisms, to prevent enamel nodule formation, and for proper root morphogenesis. Also, and consistent with the role of TGF-β signaling during mineralization, almost all craniofacial bone components were affected in Ltbp3-/- mice, especially those involving the upper jaw and snout. This mouse model demonstrates phenotypic overlap with Verloes Bourguignon syndrome, also caused by mutation of LTBP3, which is hallmarked by craniofacial anomalies and amelogenesis imperfecta phenotypes.journal article2017 Febimporte

Clinical, preclinical and translational approaches of orodental anomalies associated with rare diseases

Les anomalies bucco-dentaires et crânio-faciales sont des manifestations phénotypiques des maladies rares. Ce doctorat combine les approches cliniques, précliniques et translationnelles en particulier par l’étude des modèles murins génétiquement modifiés reproduisant les maladies rares étudiées. Ce doctorat vise ainsi à identifier des gènes impliqués dans la morphogenèse et la signalisation inter-cellulaire en s’intéressant aux facteurs environnementaux et génétiques. Une étude détaille les effets d’un facteur d’environnement l’acide rétinoïque en excès sur du développement dentaire et la formation de l’émail. Les anomalies dentaires et de la formation de l'émail sont analysées dans des modèles murins, de maladies rares génétiques, inactivés pour Ltbp3 et Smoc2. Ces résultats permettent une meilleure compréhension du développement dentaire et crânio-facial, pourraient déboucher sur la mise au point et l’amélioration de traitements appropriés et de stratégies thérapeutiques applicables à la prise en charge de patients atteins de maladies rares. L’approche via les modèles murins des maladies rares est tout à fait pertinente pour suivre la régénération osseuse et les pathologies associées.The goal of this thesis is to investigate genetic and environmental factors, both initiating and influencing signaling centers that regulate tooth development and thus producing associated defects. Essentially, my research program utilizes patient-based rare disease phenotypes to create novel mouse models. This study also involved investigating the developmental effects of excess retinoic acid on enamel formation to gain understanding of the mechanisms by which environmental factors can alter enamel development. Other studies investigated enamel and dental anomalies in Ltbp3 and Smoc2 mutant mice. These results advance our understanding of tooth development, and may translate towards optimizing clinical diagnosis, and improving treatment strategies for several human rare diseases. An improved understanding of rare disease models and our testing of clinically relevant approaches using rodent models is a feasible approach to address bone degeneration problems

Clinical, preclinical and translational approaches of orodental anomalies associated with rare diseases

Les anomalies bucco-dentaires et crânio-faciales sont des manifestations phénotypiques des maladies rares. Ce doctorat combine les approches cliniques, précliniques et translationnelles en particulier par l’étude des modèles murins génétiquement modifiés reproduisant les maladies rares étudiées. Ce doctorat vise ainsi à identifier des gènes impliqués dans la morphogenèse et la signalisation inter-cellulaire en s’intéressant aux facteurs environnementaux et génétiques. Une étude détaille les effets d’un facteur d’environnement l’acide rétinoïque en excès sur du développement dentaire et la formation de l’émail. Les anomalies dentaires et de la formation de l'émail sont analysées dans des modèles murins, de maladies rares génétiques, inactivés pour Ltbp3 et Smoc2. Ces résultats permettent une meilleure compréhension du développement dentaire et crânio-facial, pourraient déboucher sur la mise au point et l’amélioration de traitements appropriés et de stratégies thérapeutiques applicables à la prise en charge de patients atteins de maladies rares. L’approche via les modèles murins des maladies rares est tout à fait pertinente pour suivre la régénération osseuse et les pathologies associées.The goal of this thesis is to investigate genetic and environmental factors, both initiating and influencing signaling centers that regulate tooth development and thus producing associated defects. Essentially, my research program utilizes patient-based rare disease phenotypes to create novel mouse models. This study also involved investigating the developmental effects of excess retinoic acid on enamel formation to gain understanding of the mechanisms by which environmental factors can alter enamel development. Other studies investigated enamel and dental anomalies in Ltbp3 and Smoc2 mutant mice. These results advance our understanding of tooth development, and may translate towards optimizing clinical diagnosis, and improving treatment strategies for several human rare diseases. An improved understanding of rare disease models and our testing of clinically relevant approaches using rodent models is a feasible approach to address bone degeneration problems

Approches cliniques, précliniques et translationnelles des anomalies bucco-dentaires associées aux maladies rares

The goal of this thesis is to investigate genetic and environmental factors, both initiating and influencing signaling centers that regulate tooth development and thus producing associated defects. Essentially, my research program utilizes patient-based rare disease phenotypes to create novel mouse models. This study also involved investigating the developmental effects of excess retinoic acid on enamel formation to gain understanding of the mechanisms by which environmental factors can alter enamel development. Other studies investigated enamel and dental anomalies in Ltbp3 and Smoc2 mutant mice. These results advance our understanding of tooth development, and may translate towards optimizing clinical diagnosis, and improving treatment strategies for several human rare diseases. An improved understanding of rare disease models and our testing of clinically relevant approaches using rodent models is a feasible approach to address bone degeneration problems.Les anomalies bucco-dentaires et crânio-faciales sont des manifestations phénotypiques des maladies rares. Ce doctorat combine les approches cliniques, précliniques et translationnelles en particulier par l’étude des modèles murins génétiquement modifiés reproduisant les maladies rares étudiées. Ce doctorat vise ainsi à identifier des gènes impliqués dans la morphogenèse et la signalisation inter-cellulaire en s’intéressant aux facteurs environnementaux et génétiques. Une étude détaille les effets d’un facteur d’environnement l’acide rétinoïque en excès sur du développement dentaire et la formation de l’émail. Les anomalies dentaires et de la formation de l'émail sont analysées dans des modèles murins, de maladies rares génétiques, inactivés pour Ltbp3 et Smoc2. Ces résultats permettent une meilleure compréhension du développement dentaire et crânio-facial, pourraient déboucher sur la mise au point et l’amélioration de traitements appropriés et de stratégies thérapeutiques applicables à la prise en charge de patients atteins de maladies rares. L’approche via les modèles murins des maladies rares est tout à fait pertinente pour suivre la régénération osseuse et les pathologies associées

Retinoic Acid Excess Impairs Amelogenesis Inducing Enamel Defects.

Abnormalities of enamel matrix proteins deposition, mineralization, or degradation during tooth development are responsible for a spectrum of either genetic diseases termed Amelogenesis imperfecta or acquired enamel defects. To assess if environmental/nutritional factors can exacerbate enamel defects, we investigated the role of the active form of vitamin A, retinoic acid (RA). Robust expression of RA-degrading enzymes Cyp26b1 and Cyp26c1 in developing murine teeth suggested RA excess would reduce tooth hard tissue mineralization, adversely affecting enamel. We employed a protocol where RA was supplied to pregnant mice as a food supplement, at a concentration estimated to result in moderate elevations in serum RA levels. This supplementation led to severe enamel defects in adult mice born from pregnant dams, with most severe alterations observed for treatments from embryonic day (E)12.5 to E16.5. We identified the enamel matrix proteins enamelin (Enam), ameloblastin (Ambn), and odontogenic ameloblast-associated protein (Odam) as target genes affected by excess RA, exhibiting mRNA reductions of over 20-fold in lower incisors at E16.5. RA treatments also affected bone formation, reducing mineralization. Accordingly, craniofacial ossification was drastically reduced after 2 days of treatment (E14.5). Massive RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on E14.5 and E16.5 lower incisors. Reductions in Runx2 (a key transcriptional regulator of bone and enamel differentiation) and its targets were observed at E14.5 in RA-exposed embryos. RNA-seq analysis further indicated that bone growth factors, extracellular matrix, and calcium homeostasis were perturbed. Genes mutated in human AI (ENAM, AMBN, AMELX, AMTN, KLK4) were reduced in expression at E16.5. Our observations support a model in which elevated RA signaling at fetal stages affects dental cell lineages. Thereafter enamel protein production is impaired, leading to permanent enamel alterations

Deficiency of the SMOC2 matricellular protein impairs bone healing and produces age-dependent bone loss

Secreted extracellular matrix components which regulate craniofacial development could be reactivated and play roles in adult wound healing. We report a patient with a loss-of-function of the secreted matricellular protein SMOC2 (SPARC related modular calcium binding 2) presenting severe oligodontia, microdontia, tooth root deficiencies, alveolar bone hypoplasia, and a range of skeletal malformations. Turning to a mouse model, Smoc2-GFP reporter expression indicates SMOC2 dynamically marks a range of dental and bone progenitors. While germline Smoc2 homozygous mutants are viable, tooth number anomalies, reduced tooth size, altered enamel prism patterning, and spontaneous age-induced periodontal bone and root loss are observed in this mouse model. Whole-genome RNA-sequencing analysis of embryonic day (E) 14.5 cap stage molars revealed reductions in early expressed enamel matrix components (Odontogenic ameloblast-associated protein) and dentin dysplasia targets (Dentin matrix acidic phosphoprotein 1). We tested if like other matricellular proteins SMOC2 was required for regenerative repair. We found that the Smoc2-GFP reporter was reactivated in adjacent periodontal tissues 4 days after tooth avulsion injury. Following maxillary tooth injury, Smoc2(-/-) mutants had increased osteoclast activity and bone resorption surrounding the extracted molar. Interestingly, a 10-day treatment with the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) inhibitor ibuprofen (30 mg/kg body weight) blocked tooth injury-induced bone loss in Smoc2(-/-) mutants, reducing matrix metalloprotease (Mmp)9. Collectively, our results indicate that endogenous SMOC2 blocks injury-induced jaw bone osteonecrosis and offsets age-induced periodontal decay

Genetic Evidence Supporting the Role of the Calcium Channel, CACNA1S, in Tooth Cusp and Root Patterning

In this study, we report a unique dominantly inherited disorganized supernumerary cusp and single root phenotype presented by 11 affected individuals belonging to 5 north-eastern Thai families. Using whole exome sequencing (WES) we identified a common single missense mutation that segregates with the phenotype in exon 6 of CACNA1S (Cav1.1) (NM_000069.2: c.[865A > G];[=] p.[Ile289Val];[=]), the Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent, L Type, Alpha-1s Subunit, OMIM ∗ 114208), affecting a highly conserved amino-acid isoleucine residue within the pore forming subdomain of CACNA1S protein. This is a strong genetic evidence that a voltage-dependent calcium ion channel is likely to play a role in influencing tooth morphogenesis and patterning.</p

Overview of other genes differentially expressed in <i>Rsk2-/Y</i> and wild-type developing mandibular molars.

<p>The table is highlighting genes selected on the basis of their known involvement in pathways regulating odontogenesis.</p

RSK2 Is a Modulator of Craniofacial Development

<div><p>Background</p><p>The <i>RSK2</i> gene is responsible for Coffin-Lowry syndrome, an X-linked dominant genetic disorder causing mental retardation, skeletal growth delays, with craniofacial and digital abnormalities typically associated with this syndrome. Craniofacial and dental anomalies encountered in this rare disease have been poorly characterized.</p><p>Methodology/Principal Findings</p><p>We examined, using X-Ray microtomographic analysis, the variable craniofacial dysmorphism and dental anomalies present in <i>Rsk2</i> knockout mice, a model of Coffin-Lowry syndrome, as well as in triple <i>Rsk1,2,3</i> knockout mutants. We report <i>Rsk</i> mutation produces surpernumerary teeth midline/mesial to the first molar. This highly penetrant phenotype recapitulates more ancestral tooth structures lost with evolution. Most likely this leads to a reduction of the maxillary diastema. Abnormalities of molar shape were generally restricted to the mesial part of both upper and lower first molars (M1). Expression analysis of the four <i>Rsk</i> genes (<i>Rsk1</i>, <i>2</i>, <i>3</i> and <i>4</i>) was performed at various stages of odontogenesis in wild-type (WT) mice. <i>Rsk2</i> is expressed in the mesenchymal, neural crest-derived compartment, correlating with proliferative areas of the developing teeth. This is consistent with RSK2 functioning in cell cycle control and growth regulation, functions potentially responsible for severe dental phenotypes. To uncover molecular pathways involved in the etiology of these defects, we performed a comparative transcriptomic (DNA microarray) analysis of mandibular wild-type versus <i>Rsk2-/Y</i> molars. We further demonstrated a misregulation of several critical genes, using a <i>Rsk2</i> shRNA knock-down strategy in molar tooth germs cultured <i>in vitro</i>.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>This study reveals RSK2 regulates craniofacial development including tooth development and patterning via novel transcriptional targets.</p></div