Expression, gene regulation, and roles of Fisp12/CTGF in developing tooth germs.

Odontogenesis involves multiple events, including tissue-tissue interactions, cell proliferation, and cell differentiation, but the underlying mechanisms of regulation are far from clear. Because Fisp12/CTGF is a signaling protein involved in similar events in other systems, we asked whether it is expressed in developing tooth germs and what roles it may have. Indeed, Fisp12/CTGF transcripts were first expressed by dental laminas, invaginating epithelium, and condensing mesenchyme at the bud stage, and then became abundant in enamel knot and preameloblasts.