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RESEARCH REPORT |
1 Dept. of Anatomy and Cell Biology and
3 Dept. of Pathology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 240 S. 40th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6030, USA
2 Dept. of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; and
4 Functional Genomics Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
* corresponding author, gibson{at}biochem.dental.upenn.edu
| ABSTRACT |
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KEY WORDS: dental enamel amelogenin transgenic mice odontogenic tumor
| INTRODUCTION |
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Amelogenesis imperfecta has been classified in several systems, according to phenotypic appearance, by genetic inheritance pattern, and by the nature of the mutation itself, when known. The phenotype of X-linked amelogenesis imperfecta varies, because different AMELX mutations produce N- or C-terminal protein changes, resulting in altered function and creating differences in enamel appearance (Snead, 2003; Wright et al., 2003). Additionally, an X-linked amelogenesis-imperfecta-associated gene locus has been identified on the Xq region of the chromosome (Aldred et al., 1992). There is also an active human amelogenin gene on the Y chromosome, but AMELY mutations resulting in AI have not yet been reported, and indeed deletion of this gene appears not to result in an enamel phenotype in males (Lattanzi et al., 2005).
During enamel development, extensive alternative splicing of the amelogenin primary transcript leads to as many as 15 individual messages (Hu et al., 1997; Papagerakis et al., 2005; Li et al., 2006). The translated amelogenins are progressively hydrolyzed by enamel proteases as enamel crystals grow (Smith, 1998). This process is carefully orchestrated to lead to an extremely intricate and highly organized enamel layer with less than 2% organic matrix by the time a tooth erupts into the oral cavity (Robinson et al., 1998; Fincham et al., 1999).
Because of the complexity of the process, leading to a large number of amelogenin proteins as well as their degradation products, which may take on unique functions as well, it has been difficult to assign functions to individual amelogenins. Hypotheses about why so many amelogenins are produced and whether they have subtle differences in function are being addressed by investigators expressing the proteins and studying assembly in vitro, or by generatiing null animal models, or mice that express a single amelogenin, to evaluate function in vivo (Moradian-Oldak et al., 2000; Gibson et al., 2001; Chen et al., 2003; Zhu et al., 2006).
To understand the role of the most abundant amelogenin, M180, during enamel development, and whether an M180 point mutation will lead to an enamel defect, we describe here the generation, molecular analysis, and phenotype of transgenic mice that express M180 under the control of Amelx regulatory sequences. We generated additional transgenic lines with the P70T mutation in M180, as described in humans with amelogenesis imperfecta (Collier et al., 1997), to determine the morphological effects of the single amino acid change in transgenic mice with the full complement of endogenous amelogenin proteins.
| MATERIALS & METHODS |
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5' primer:
CCTTCCTATGGTTACGAAACCATGGGTGGATGGCTGCACC
3' primer:
GGTGCAGCCATCCACCCATGGTTTCGTAACCATAGGAAGG
This change was confirmed by DNA sequence analysis, and then the subclone was reinserted to replace this region in the expression vector.
Generation of Transgenic Mice and Molecular Analysis
The complete inserts from each plasmid were released by XhoI digestion and injected into fertilized mouse eggs at the University of Pennsylvania Transgenic Core Facility. Work involving mice was done in an AAALAC-accredited facility, and protocols were approved by the IACUC of the University of Pennsylvania.
DNA was purified from mouse tails and subjected to PCR as previously described (Chen et al., 2003), for the identification of transgenic mice. RNA was isolated from mandibular teeth from 3-to 5-day-old pups and subjected to RT-PCR as previously described (Chen et al., 2003). For protein analysis, male transgenic mice were mated with AmelX null females, and M1 molar teeth were dissected from transgene-positive or transgene-negative offspring at 35 days of age. Extracts were prepared as previously described (Chen et al., 2003); samples were subjected to gradient gel electrophoresis and transferred to nitrocellulose (BioRad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA). Western blots were probed with an anti-amelogenin C-terminus antibody (Gibson et al., 1995). Secondary antibody was visualized with DAB Peroxidase Substrate (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA).
Microscopic Analysis of Murine Teeth
Mandibles were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde overnight, and gross inspection of mandibular molar and incisor surfaces was done by light microscopy. For histological examination of the ameloblasts and developing dental tissues, the mandibles were decalcified, embedded in paraffin, sectioned with identical transverse orientation (so that specific developmental stages could be established), and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Images of sections were recorded for incisors and molars. For immunohistochemistry, paraffin sections were incubated with anti-amelogenin antibody, and negative controls lacked primary antibody. Scanning electron micrographic analysis of tooth surfaces and fractured internal enamel and dentin surfaces of incisors and molars was completed at 20 kV (Jeol JSM T330A, Jeol, Inc., Peabody, MA, USA).
| RESULTS |
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Site-directed Mutagenesis to Generate the P70T Transgene
A 3.5-kB fragment containing exon 6 was subjected to in vitro mutagenesis with a primer that changed amino acid 70 from a proline to a threonine (Fig. 1
). All other amino acids were identical in these 2 transgenes.
Generation and Molecular Analysis of Transgenic Mice
Injection of the inserts from the 2 plasmids into fertilized mouse eggs led to the generation of several founders with germline transmission. Strains were monitored by PCR of tail DNA; primers for PCR were designed to unique regions of the transgene, as described previously (Chen et al., 2003; not shown).
Strains generated and transgene copy numbers for the F1 heterozygotes are listed in the APPENDIX Table. First mandibular molar teeth were dissected from 3- to 5-day-old pups, and RNA was purified and analyzed by reverse-transcriptase/polymerase chain-reaction (RT-PCR) for the expression of the transgenes. Unique primers were designed to recognize the transgene, but not the RNA products of the endogenous AmelX gene (APPENDIX Fig.); products were not observed with wild-type control teeth.
To detect expression of the transgenic protein, we mated male transgenic mice to female AmelX null mice, which did not express any of the amelogenin proteins (Gibson et al., 2001). Following PCR analysis of tail DNA, we made extracts from developing teeth of male offspring that were positive or negative for the transgene. Because the AmelX gene is solely on the X chromosome in mice, all males from this mating would have a null genetic background, to eliminate the endogenous amelogenins in the Western blot. Proteins were separated by electrophoresis on an agarose gel and transferred to nitrocellulose for Western blotting. An antibody that recognizes amelogenin C-terminus (Gibson et al., 1995) was used to detect expression (Fig. 2
). Heterozygous females were the positive controls.
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Tumor Phenotype
When P70T transgenic males were mated with Amelx null females, offspring that were transgene-positive had a more severe enamel phenotype compared with that of Amelx null or P70T transgenic mice. Histological analysis revealed a hyperplastic stratum intermedium cell layer exhibiting transition to a tumor composed of benign, eosinophilic, polygonal cells with intercellular bridges. The proliferative cells were generally arranged in variably sized cords, with aggregates of amorphous, basophilic-staining material in direct apposition to the proliferating stratum intermedium cells (Fig. 4A
), some of which were identified, by immunohistochemistry, as amelogenin-positive (Fig. 4C
). Although calcification was not obvious in these tumors by microCT scanning, further analysis will be needed to clarify this question. These abnormal cells were not seen in Amelx null or other Amelx transgenic strains (Fig. 4B
), and were apparent by 45 days of age.
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| DISCUSSION |
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We had hypothesized that a single amino acid difference in the transgene would lead to an enamel defect similar to that seen in human AI with the same mutation, and indeed this was the result. In the P70T transgenic mice, all normal amelogenins are expressed, in addition to the mutated transgene. In humans, by contrast, the mutation resides in the endogenous gene, and all amelogenin proteins that include this region of exon 6 will have the mutation. Human males also have a Y-chromosomal amelogenin gene (Salido et al., 1992), which is thought to be expressed at a level that is too low to provide rescue of the phenotype. Human females have 2 X chromosomes, and in cases with an AMELX mutation, one of them would have a normal AMELX gene, leading to Lyonization, where vertical ridges of normal and defective enamel interdigitate (Sauk et al., 1972; Collier et al., 1997).
The observation that the P70T transgene generated an enamel defect reveals the dominant nature of this mutation. This region of the amelogenin protein has received much attention, since it is a region capable of binding N-acetyl glucosamine, a sugar that could be on other enamel proteins, leading to specific interactions (Ravindranath et al., 1999). P70T is also adjacent to a proteolytic cleavage site thought to be required for orderly removal of the protein during mineral crystal growth, and this mutation reduces enzyme activity in vitro (Fincham et al., 1983; Li et al., 2001).
While the actual mechanism(s) whereby this mutation leads to amelogenesis imperfecta has not yet been ascertained, this study points to yet another function related to cell binding or proliferation. Odontogenic tumors have not been observed in the Amelx null mice or in Amelx null/M180 mice, but the Amelx/P70T mice develop abnormal proliferations at an early age and with high penetrance (10/10 in 2 strains), beginning at 45 days of age.
Abnormal cell structures are observed as early as 1 day of age adjacent to incisors, and tumors form adjacent to both incisors and molars in both Amelx null/P70T males and heterozygous Amelx +//P70T females. Because the enamel phenotype is much more severe in molars than incisors of transgenic mice, we hypothesize that expression of the transgene could be greater in molars than incisors. However, P70T expression leads to abnormal stratum intermedium proliferation, even in Amelx het females, which would be secreting half the normal amount of amelogenin proteins. Therefore, tumor formation appears to require only a small amount of P70T to be present, linked to a reduction of normal amelogenins.
Collectively, the histologic findings were highly reminiscent of those seen in calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumors, which are rare, benign epithelial odontogenic tumors that are thought to be derived from stratum intermedium cells. The tumor is characterized by intercellular linkages that are apparent between both normal stratum intermedium and tumor cells, and these structures are visible in both human and murine tumors. Cells related to ameloblasts are within the tumors, which immunochemistry reveals to be amelogenin-positive. Tumors have not as yet been reported in humans with the P70T mutation, and therefore, insight into the reason behind this potential difference may lead to a greater understanding of stratum intermedium biology.
Mice that are null for ameloblastin, an unrelated enamel protein, also develop odontogenic tumors, but in this case, 19% of mice developed ameloblast proliferations beginning at 28 wks of age (Fukumoto et al., 2004, 2005). In this case, the mechanism was suggested to be a loss of ameloblast attachment to the enamel surface, leading to inappropriate proliferation.
In conclusion, the murine models described here illustrate the robust nature of amelogenesis, since enamel tolerates excess normal amelogenins well. The P70T mutation reveals a role in both enamel structure as well as cell biology of the ameloblast/stratum intermedium cell layers during enamel development.
| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
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| FOOTNOTES |
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Received August 25, 2006; Last revision November 28, 2006; Accepted November 30, 2006
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