2. Academic Validation
  3. Autocrine ECM molecules establish MSC quiescence during incisor development by disrupting WNT ligand trafficking process

Autocrine ECM molecules establish MSC quiescence during incisor development by disrupting WNT ligand trafficking process

  • Nat Commun. 2025 Nov 27;16(1):10676. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-65705-z.
Zexi Chen # 1 2,  Meilian Cai # 2 3,  Yuling Wang 2,  Xuan Li 4,  Yongwen He 5,  Hongji Pu 5,  Juan Huang 2,  Ling Ye 4,  Ruili Yang 6,  Junjun Jing 7,  Hu Zhao 8
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
  • 2 Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.
  • 3 Department of Orthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing, China.
  • 4 State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
  • 5 Qujing Medical College, Qujing City, Yunnan Province, China.
  • 6 Department of Orthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing, China. ruiliyang@bjmu.edu.cn.
  • 7 State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. junjunjing@scu.edu.cn.
  • 8 Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China. zhaohu@cibr.ac.cn.
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 41309624 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65705-z
Abstract

Stem cells support homeostasis and injury repair of adult organs. It remains unclear when and how adult stem cells form during development. Here, we discover that incisor mesenchymal stem cells, marked by an extracellular matrix molecule Smoc2, establish their identity and quiescence between E14.5 and E16.5, and persist into adulthood. They support both embryonic tooth development and postnatal organ turnover. Concurrently, the incisor mesenchyme evolves from a homogenous dental papilla into a heterogeneous dental pulp consisting of a complete lineage hierarchy, which persists into adulthood. Smoc2 and its homologous molecule Smoc1 are indispensable for maintaining the quiescence and hierarchy of mesenchymal stem cells. They function by disrupting the binding between canonical Wnt ligands and glypican, a process critical for transporting hydrophobic Wnt ligands within the aqueous niche. In conclusion, mesenchymal stem cells establish their quiescence during development through autocrine extracellular matrix molecules to keep canonical Wnt ligands from accessing them.

Figures
Products
嗨！很高兴为您提供帮助！

尊敬的 MCE 客户您好，
请您选择所在区域，我们将转接对应客服为您服务！

热门区域

A

B

C

F

G

H

J

L

N

Q

S

T

X

Y

Z

热 A B C F G H J L N Q S T X Y Z