Identification of GPI-anchored protein LYPD1 as an essential factor for odontoblast differentiation in tooth development.

Lipid rafts are membrane microdomains rich in cholesterol, sphingolipids, glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins (GPI-APs), and receptors. These lipid raft components are localized at the plasma membrane and are essential for signal transmission and organogenesis. However, few reports have been published on the specific effects of lipid rafts on tooth development.

Development of a novel ex vivo organ culture system to improve preservation methods of regenerative tissues.

Recent advances in regenerative technology have made the regeneration of various organs using pluripotent stem cells possible. However, a simpler screening method for evaluating regenerated organs is required to apply this technology to clinical regenerative medicine in the future. We have developed a simple evaluation method using a mouse tooth germ culture model of organs formed by epithelial-mesenchymal interactions.

An ex vivo organ culture screening model revealed that low temperature conditions prevent side effects of anticancer drugs.

Development of chemotherapy has led to a high survival rate of cancer patients; however, the severe side effects of anticancer drugs, including organ hypoplasia, persist. To assume the side effect of anticancer drugs, we established a new ex vivo screening model and described a method for suppressing side effects. Cyclophosphamide (CPA) is a commonly used anticancer drug and causes severe side effects in developing organs with intensive proliferation, including the teeth and hair.

The tooth-specific basic helix-loop-helix factor AmeloD promotes differentiation of ameloblasts.

Tissue-specific basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors play an important role in cellular differentiation. We recently identified AmeloD as a tooth-specific bHLH transcription factor. However, the role of AmeloD in cellular differentiation has not been investigated.

microRNA-875-5p plays critical role for mesenchymal condensation in epithelial-mesenchymal interaction during tooth development.

Epithelial-mesenchymal interaction has critical roles for organ development including teeth, during which epithelial thickening and mesenchymal condensation are initiated by precise regulation of the signaling pathway. In teeth, neural crest-derived mesenchymal cells expressed PDGF receptors migrate and become condensed toward invaginated epithelium. To identify the molecular mechanism of this interaction, we explored the specific transcriptional start sites (TSSs) of tooth organs using cap analysis of gene expression (CAGE).