Transcriptomic profiling of the adult reptilian dentition sheds light on the genes regulating indefinite tooth replacement
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to discover new genes and cells involved in life-long tooth replacement. Here we study the adult dentition of the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius). Bulk RNAseq was used to compare teeth that are in function versus unerupted, developing teeth and single cell RNA-seq was carried out on jaw segments containing the dental forming tissues. In bulk RNAseq data, we found that functional teeth expressed genes involved in bone and tooth resorption. Indeed, we found expression of these markers in multinucleated odontoclasts within resorbing functional teeth. Chemotaxis genes SEMA3A and SEMA3E, were expressed within odontoblasts and in adjacent mesenchyme using RNAscope. Semaphorins could be involved in regulating odontoclast formation, recruitment or repulsion from developing teeth. The scRNA-seq experiment successfully isolated dental mesenchyme and several epithelial clusters. We confirmed that some of these genes are expressed in the earliest tooth buds within the tooth forming field and in erupting teeth. This work will lead to discovery of genes and cell populations that may have been gained or lost during evolution of amniotes. Moreover, gene differences may lead to dental therapies to prevent tooth loss from disease or injury.
ORGANISM(S): Eublepharis macularius
PROVIDER: GSE220653 | GEO | 2022/12/24
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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