Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) isoform expression by odontoblasts leads to their sequestration within the dentine matrix, from where they may be released during caries and participate in the reparative processes. Two receptor types for TGF-β have been implicated in TGF-β induced signalling. The aim of this study was to characterise immunohistochemically the expression of these receptors in sound and carious human teeth to facilitate our understanding of the ability of these cells to respond to TGF-β stimulation. Sound and carious human teeth were routinely processed and paraffin sections stained for TGF-β receptors I and II, using the StrAviGen immunoperoxidase method. Strong specific staining for both receptor types was observed in the odontoblasts of healthy teeth with the greatest intensity seen with receptor I. Staining of weaker intensity was also observed for both receptors in the underlying cell rich area and pulp core. Similar patterns of staining were observed within carious tissues. We conclude that odontoblasts and other cells of the pulp of mature human molar teeth show the presence of both TGF-β receptors I and II in health and disease with odontoblasts showing the strongest expression. Such findings may be important in the response of these cells to tissue injury.
Similar content being viewed by others
References cited
Bègue-Kirn C, Smith AJ, Loriot M, Kupferle C, Ruch JV, Lesot H (1994) Comparative analysis of TGFβs, BMPs IGF1, msxs, fibronectin, osteonectin and bone sialoprotein gene expression during normal and in vitro-induced odontoblast differentiation. Int J Dev Biol 38: 405-420.
CamY, Lesot H, Colosetti P, Ruch JV (1997) Distribution of transforming growth factor-β1-binding proteins and low affinity receptors during odontoblast differentiation in the mouse. Arch Oral Biol 42: 385-391.
Cassidy N, Fahey M, Prime SS, Smith AJ (1997) Comparative analysis of transforming growth factor-β isoforms 1–3 in human and rabbit dentine matrices. Arch Oral Biol 42: 219-223.
Centrella M, Casinghino S, Kim J, Pham T, Rosen V, Wozney J, McCarthy TL (1995) Independent changes in type I and type II receptors for transforming growth factor-β induced bone morphogenetic protein 2 parallel expression of the osteoblast phenotype. Mol Cell Biol 15: 3273-3281.
Chen R-H, Ebner R, Derynck R (1993) Inactivation of the type II receptor reveals two receptor pathways for the diverse TGF-β activities. Science 260: 1335-1338.
Derynck R (1994) TGF-β receptor-mediated signalling. Trends Biochem Sci 19: 548-553.
Finkelman RD, Mohan S, Jennings JC, Taylor AK, Jepsen S, Baylink DJ (1990) Quantitation of growth factors IGF-I, SGF/IGF-II and TGF-β in human dentin. J Bone Min Res 5: 717-723.
Frank S, Madlener M, Werner S (1996) Transforming growth factors β1, β2 and β3 and their receptors are differentially regulated during normal and impaired wound healing. J Biol Chem 271(17): 10188-10193.
Harpel JG, Metz CN, Kojima S, Rifkin DB (1992) Control of transforming growth factor-β activity: latency vs. activation. Progr Growth Factor Res 4: 321-335.
Heikinheimo K (1994) Stage-specific expression of decapentaplegic-Vgrelated genes 2, 4 and 6 (bone morphogenetic proteins 2, 4 and 6) during human tooth morphogenesis. J Dent Res 73: 590-597.
Imamura T, Takase M, Nishihara A, Oeda E, Hanai J-I, Kawabata M, Miyazono K (1997) Smad6 inhibits signalling by the TGF-β superfamily. Nature 389: 622-626.
Kingsley DM (1994) The TGF-β superfamily: new members, new receptors, and new genetic tests of function in different organisms. Genes Dev 8: 133-146.
Laiho M, Weis MB, Massagué J (1990) Concomitant loss of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta receptor types I and II in TGFbeta-resistant cell mutants implicates both receptor types in signal transduction. J Biol Chem 265: 18518-18524.
Leonard CM, Fuld HM, Frenz DA, Downie SA, Massagué J, Newman SA (1991) Role of transforming growth factor-β in chondrogenic pattern formation in the embryonic limb: stimulation of mesenchymal condensation and fibronectin gene expression by exogenous TGF-β and evidence for endogenous TGF-β-like activity. Dev Biol 145: 99-109.
Massagué J (1990) The transforming growth factor β family. Annu Rev Cell Biol 6: 597-641.
Massagué J, Hata A, Liu F (1997) TGF-β signalling through the Smad pathway. Trends Cell Biol 7: 187-192.
Merwin JR, Newman W, Beall LD, Tucker A, Madri J (1991) Vascular cells respond differentially to transforming growth factor beta1 and beta2 in vitro. Am J Pathol 138: 37-51.
Miyazono K, Ichijo H, Heldin CH (1993) Transforming growth factor-β: latent forms, binding proteins and receptors. Growth Factors 8: 11-22.
Rapraeger A (1989) Transforming growth factor (type β) promotes the addition of chondroitin sulfate chains to the cell surface proteoglycan syndecan of mouse mammary epithelia. J Cell Biol 109: 2509-2518.
Ruch JV, Lesot H, Bègue-Kirn C (1995) Odontoblast differentiation. Int J Dev Biol 39: 51-68.
Sloan AJ, Smith AJ (1998) Stimulation of the dentine-pulp complex of rat incisor teeth by TGF-β isoforms 1–3 in vitro. Arch Oral Biol 44: 149-156.
Smith AJ, Matthews JB, Hall RC (1998) Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in dentine matrix: ligand activation and receptor expression. Eur J Oral Sci 106: 179-184.
Smith AJ, Cassidy N, Perry H, Bègue-Kirn C, Ruch JV, Lesot H (1995) Reactionary dentinogenesis. Int J Dev Biol 39: 273-280.
Toyono T, Nakashima M, Kuhara S, Akamine A (1997) Expression of TGF-β superfamily receptors in dental pulp. J Dent Res 76: 1555-1560.
Tziafas D, Papadimitriou S (1998) Role of exogenous TGF-b in induction of reparative dentinogenesis in vivo. Eur J Oral Sci 106: 192-196.
Vaahtokari A, Vainio S, Thesleff I (1991) Associations between transforming growth factor β1 RNA expression and epitheilal-mesenchymal interactions during tooth morphogenesis. Development 113: 985-994.
Vainio S, Karavanova I, Jowett A, Thesleff I (1993) Identification of BMP-4 as a signal mediating secondary induction between epithelial and mesenchymal tissues during early tooth development. Cell 75: 45-58.
Whitman M (1997) Feedback from inhibitory SMADS. Nature 389: 549-551.
Wrana JL, Attisano L, Wieser R, Ventura F, Massagué J (1994) Mechanism of activation of the TGF-β receptor. Nature 370: 341-346.
Yamaguchi Y, Mann DM, Ruoslahti E (1990) Negative regulation of transforming growth factor b by the proteoglycan decorin. Nature 346: 281-284.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sloan, A., Matthews, J. & Smith, A. TGF-β Receptor Expression in Human Odontoblasts and Pulpal Cells. Histochem J 31, 565–569 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003852409574
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003852409574