Mouse dental papilla cells(mDPCs)are cranial neural crest-derived dental mesenchymal cells that give rise to dentin-secreting odontoblasts after the bell stage during odontogenesis.The odontoblastic differentiation of...Mouse dental papilla cells(mDPCs)are cranial neural crest-derived dental mesenchymal cells that give rise to dentin-secreting odontoblasts after the bell stage during odontogenesis.The odontoblastic differentiation of mDPCs is spatiotemporally regulated by transcription factors(TFs).Our previous work reveals that chromatin accessibility was correlated with the occupation of the basic leucine zipper TF family during odontoblastic differentiation.However,the detailed mechanism by which TFs regulate the initiation of odontoblastic differentiation remains elusive.Here,we report that phosphorylation of ATF2(p-ATF2)is particularly increased during odontoblastic differentiation in vivo and in vitro.ATAC-seq and p-ATF2 CUT&Tag experiments further demonstrate a high correlation between p-ATF2 localization and increased chromatin accessibility of regions near mineralization-related genes.Knockdown of Atf2 inhibits the odontoblastic differentiation of mDPCs,while overexpression of p-ATF2 promotes odontoblastic differentiation.ATAC-seq after overexpression of p-ATF2 reveals that p-ATF2 increases the chromatin accessibility of regions adjacent to genes associated with matrix mineralization.Furthermore,we find that p-ATF2 physically interacts with and promotes H2BK12 acetylation.Taken together,our findings reveal a mechanism that p-ATF2 promotes odontoblastic differentiation at initiation via remodeling chromatin accessibility and emphasize the role of the phosphoswitch model of TFs in cell fate transitions.展开更多
The functional regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex is pivotal for tooth preservation,yet the molecular mechanisms governing odontoblast differentiation remain poorly understood.In the current study,we revealed a d...The functional regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex is pivotal for tooth preservation,yet the molecular mechanisms governing odontoblast differentiation remain poorly understood.In the current study,we revealed a distinct NKD1^(+) subpopulation exhibiting secretory odontoblast characteristics,which was specifically induced in dental pulp stem cells(DPSCs) by Wnt3a,but not by Wnt5a or Wnt10a through single-cell transcriptomic profiling.We then found that the NKD1^(+) subpopulation was functional conservation,which were consistently identified in the odontoblast layers of developing tooth germs in both murine and miniature pig models,as well as within the apical open area in human molars.This conserved spatial distribution and co-localization with DSPP strongly indicates that NKD1^(+) cells were active dentin-secreting odontoblasts.Analysis of gene regulatory networks using SCENIC identified MSX1 as a key transcription factor regulating the specification of NKD1^(+) lineage.Mechanistically,Wnt3a orchestrates a tripartite cascade:upregulating NKD1/MSX1 expression,triggering NKD1 membrane detachment,and facilitating direct NKD1-MSX1interaction to promote MSX1 nuclear translocation.CUT&Tag analysis demonstrated MSX1 occupancy at promoters of odontogenic regulato rs,esta blishing its necessity for odontogenic gene activation.Murine pulp exposure models validated that Wnt3a-activated NKD1-MSX1 signaling significantly enhances reparative dentin formation.This study delineates an evolutionarily conserved Wnt3aNKD1-MSX1 axis that resolves stem cell heterogeneity into functional odontoblast commitment,providing both mechanistic insights into dentin-pulp regeneration and a foundation for targeted regenerative therapies.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82071110 and No. 82230029) to Zhi Chenthe National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82071077 and No.82270948)+1 种基金“the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities”“The Young Top-notch Talent Cultivation Program of Hubei Province” to Huan Liu
文摘Mouse dental papilla cells(mDPCs)are cranial neural crest-derived dental mesenchymal cells that give rise to dentin-secreting odontoblasts after the bell stage during odontogenesis.The odontoblastic differentiation of mDPCs is spatiotemporally regulated by transcription factors(TFs).Our previous work reveals that chromatin accessibility was correlated with the occupation of the basic leucine zipper TF family during odontoblastic differentiation.However,the detailed mechanism by which TFs regulate the initiation of odontoblastic differentiation remains elusive.Here,we report that phosphorylation of ATF2(p-ATF2)is particularly increased during odontoblastic differentiation in vivo and in vitro.ATAC-seq and p-ATF2 CUT&Tag experiments further demonstrate a high correlation between p-ATF2 localization and increased chromatin accessibility of regions near mineralization-related genes.Knockdown of Atf2 inhibits the odontoblastic differentiation of mDPCs,while overexpression of p-ATF2 promotes odontoblastic differentiation.ATAC-seq after overexpression of p-ATF2 reveals that p-ATF2 increases the chromatin accessibility of regions adjacent to genes associated with matrix mineralization.Furthermore,we find that p-ATF2 physically interacts with and promotes H2BK12 acetylation.Taken together,our findings reveal a mechanism that p-ATF2 promotes odontoblastic differentiation at initiation via remodeling chromatin accessibility and emphasize the role of the phosphoswitch model of TFs in cell fate transitions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82170951,82470961)the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (7222079)+4 种基金the Beijing Hospital Authority"Dengfeng"Talent Training Plan (DFL 20221301)the Beijing Stomatological HospitalCapital Medical University Young Scientist Program (No.YSP202401)the Laboratory for Clinical Medicine and the Central Laboratory of Capital Medical University for their technical support and fundingthe Japan China Sasakawa Medical Fellowship for their generous support and funding。
文摘The functional regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex is pivotal for tooth preservation,yet the molecular mechanisms governing odontoblast differentiation remain poorly understood.In the current study,we revealed a distinct NKD1^(+) subpopulation exhibiting secretory odontoblast characteristics,which was specifically induced in dental pulp stem cells(DPSCs) by Wnt3a,but not by Wnt5a or Wnt10a through single-cell transcriptomic profiling.We then found that the NKD1^(+) subpopulation was functional conservation,which were consistently identified in the odontoblast layers of developing tooth germs in both murine and miniature pig models,as well as within the apical open area in human molars.This conserved spatial distribution and co-localization with DSPP strongly indicates that NKD1^(+) cells were active dentin-secreting odontoblasts.Analysis of gene regulatory networks using SCENIC identified MSX1 as a key transcription factor regulating the specification of NKD1^(+) lineage.Mechanistically,Wnt3a orchestrates a tripartite cascade:upregulating NKD1/MSX1 expression,triggering NKD1 membrane detachment,and facilitating direct NKD1-MSX1interaction to promote MSX1 nuclear translocation.CUT&Tag analysis demonstrated MSX1 occupancy at promoters of odontogenic regulato rs,esta blishing its necessity for odontogenic gene activation.Murine pulp exposure models validated that Wnt3a-activated NKD1-MSX1 signaling significantly enhances reparative dentin formation.This study delineates an evolutionarily conserved Wnt3aNKD1-MSX1 axis that resolves stem cell heterogeneity into functional odontoblast commitment,providing both mechanistic insights into dentin-pulp regeneration and a foundation for targeted regenerative therapies.
