Zurich – Mutations in a certain molecule lead to severe damage to the structure and mineral composition of tooth enamel in mice. This is shown by researchers at the UZH Center for Dentistry in a study that combines genetic, molecular and imaging methods.
Enamel is the hardest organic tissue in nature and has a very complex structure of minerals and enamel-specific proteins. These proteins are produced by cells that are found exclusively in the teeth: the ameloblasts. But as robust as tooth enamel is in principle, it is also susceptible to damage: Tooth enamel defects are among the most common dental problems and result, among other things, in sensitive teeth and an increased risk of caries.
Molecule Adam10 in focus
A research team from the Center for Dental Medicine at the University of Zurich has now identified for the first time an important gene network that is responsible for severe enamel defects. Using various genetically modified mouse models, the scientists analyzed the effects of the molecule Adam10. Adam10 is closely linked to the Notch signaling pathway, which enables communication between neighboring cells, is essential for embryonic development and also plays a crucial role in the development of serious human diseases such as stroke and cancer. In order to investigate in detail the role of the Adam10/Notch signaling pathway in the formation and pathology of tooth enamel and to analyze the changes in cell and enamel structure after gene manipulation, the researchers used modern genetic, molecular and imaging methods.
Defects in enamel structure and mineral composition
In this way, they were able to show that there is a close connection between defective Adam10/Notch function and enamel defects. “Mice with an Adam10 mutation had teeth with severe enamel damage,” says Thimios Mitsiadis, Professor of Oral Biology at the Center for Dentistry and leader of the study. “The Adam10 deletion confuses the ameloblasts, leading to severe malformations in both the structure and the mineral composition of tooth enamel.” Adam10-dependent Notch signaling plays a role not only in severe clinical pictures, but also in the organization and structure of developing tissues such as teeth.
New starting points for prevention and therapy
Mitsiadis is convinced that understanding the genetic code that controls tooth development, knowledge of the molecular relationships during enamel formation and the effects of mutations that lead to enamel malfunctions open up new perspectives for dental prevention and treatment: “The prerequisites for the While enamel repair and regeneration is extremely complex, new genetic and pharmaceutical tools targeting defective enamel formation could significantly improve future dental care.” (University of Zurich/mc/pg)