Expression of Different Isoforms of Versican During the Development of Mouse Mandibular First Molars

Abstract

Versican is a large chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan enriched in the extracellular matrix, and it has at least four different isoforms, termed V0, V1, V2, and V3. Although several studies have demonstrated that versican is stably expressed in various developing organs, the expression of versican isoforms during tooth development has not been elucidated yet. Therefore, the present study was to investigate the expression of versican isoforms in the developing mouse molars. The mandibular first molars from embryonic day (E) 11.5 to postnatal day (PN) 21 were used to investigate the expression of versican isoforms by immunohistochemistry, and the gene expressions of versican ( Vcan) isoforms from E13.5 to PN7 were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. The results exhibited different expressing patterns of versican isoforms—the stellate reticulum (SR) and the dental mesenchymal cells adjacent to Hertwig’s Epithelial Root Sheath (HERS) only expressed V1 and the mature odontoblasts mainly expressed V2, while the dental papilla and the ameloblasts might both express V0/V1/V2. These results suggested that different versican isoforms may act different roles in the tooth development, and we speculated that V0/V1 might be intimately involved in the cell proliferation while V2 was associated in the cytodifferentiation.

Cell Differentiation and Replication during Postnatal Development of the Murine First Molar

“…Teeth are made of different cells [ 6 ] and tissues: the mineralized ectoderm-derived enamel, the mesenchyme-derived dentin and cementum and the non-mineralized dental pulp, also differentiating from mesenchyme. During development, they interact differently among each other, with the extracellular matrix [ 8 , 9 , 10 ], with blood vessels, which start differentiating around embryonic day 14, and with nerves, entering pulp at P4 [ 11 ] to shape the teeth. These are efficient structures for mastication, defense and voice articulation and encompass an outer portion called the crown, connected through the cementoenamel junction (the neck) to the root, fixed to the alveolar bone.…”

Historic Background and Current Perspectives in Dental Crown Formation

“…The DG cells also produce glycosaminglycans [94]. Versican (coded by VCAN gene) V0/V1 is involved in cell proliferation, while V2 isoform is associated with histodifferentiation phase [94].…”

“…The DG cells also produce glycosaminglycans [94]. Versican (coded by VCAN gene) V0/V1 is involved in cell proliferation, while V2 isoform is associated with histodifferentiation phase [94]. These two molecules act as scaffolds for extracellular matrix formation [95], and in EEI in early dentinogenesis [96].…”

Embryology Update

“…The DG cells also produce glycosaminglycans [94]. Versican (coded by VCAN gene) V0/V1 is involved in cell proliferation, while V2 isoform is associated with histodifferentiation phase [94]. These two molecules act as scaffolds for extracellular matrix formation [95], and in EEI in early dentinogenesis [96].…”