Adult dental epithelial stem cell-derived organoids deposit hydroxylapatite biomineral

Hyun Yi Kim, Victoria Cooley, Eun Jung Kim, Shujin Li, Jong Min Lee, Dina Sheyfer, Wenjun Liu, Ophir D. Klein, Derk Joester, Han Sung Jung*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ameloblasts are specialized cells derived from the dental epithelium that produce enamel, a hierarchically structured tissue comprised of highly elongated hydroxylapatite (OHAp) crystallites. The unique function of the epithelial cells synthesizing crystallites and assembling them in a mechanically robust structure is not fully elucidated yet, partly due to limitations with in vitro experimental models. Herein, we demonstrate the ability to generate mineralizing dental epithelial organoids (DEOs) from adult dental epithelial stem cells (aDESCs) isolated from mouse incisor tissues. DEOs expressed ameloblast markers, could be maintained for more than five months (11 passages) in vitro in media containing modulators of Wnt, Egf, Bmp, Fgf and Notch signaling pathways, and were amenable to cryostorage. When transplanted underneath murine kidney capsules, organoids produced OHAp crystallites similar in composition, size, and shape to mineralized dental tissues, including some enamel-like elongated crystals. DEOs are thus a powerful in vitro model to study mineralization process by dental epithelium, which can pave the way to understanding amelogenesis and developing regenerative therapy of enamel.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number55
JournalInternational Journal of Oral Science
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Dentistry

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