... characterized the ability of fetal and adult human dental mesenchyme to promote differentiation of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived ECs (ES-ECs) into ameloblast-lineage cells. ES-ECs were co-cultured either with human fetal dental mesenchymal cells (FDMCs) or with adult dental mesenchymal cells (ADMCs...

...Yong Li; Megan K. Pugach; Melissa A. Kuehl; Li Peng; Jessica Bouchard; Soon Y. Hwang; Carolyn W. Gibson Using in vitrotooth germ cultures and analysis by confocal microscopy, ameloblasts treated with sodium fluoride were found to have elevated amounts of filamentous actin. Because this response...

..., and fractures occur in enamel above the DEJ in Klk4 -null mice. Klk4 is not expressed by secretory-stage ameloblasts, murine odontoblasts beneath the secretory stage, or maturation-stage ameloblasts. Klk4 is specifically expressed by transition and maturation-stage ameloblasts. Conclusions: The breakage...

... translation initiation site. DNA constructs containing 5.2 or 3.9 kb upstream of the Enam translation initiation site were linked to an LacZ reporter gene and used to generate transgenic mice. The 3.9-kb Enam -LacZ transgenic lines showed no expression in ameloblasts, but ectopic LacZ staining was detected...

... found to be expressed. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed that the maturation-stage ameloblasts express cathepsins L and S and tripeptidyl peptidase II. Our results suggest that the ameloblasts are enriched by a large number of lysosomal proteases at maturation that are likely involved...