Sox21 Regulates Anapc10 Expression and Determines the Fate of Ectodermal Organs
July 2020
in “
iScience
”
TLDR Sox21 is crucial for tooth development and enamel formation by preventing cells from changing into a different type.
The study investigated the role of Sox21 in regulating Anapc10 expression and its impact on the fate of ectodermal organs, particularly focusing on dental epithelium and hair follicles. Sox21 was found to be crucial for proper ameloblast differentiation and enamel formation, as its disruption led to severe enamel hypoplasia and ectopic hair formation in the gingiva of Sox21 knockout mice. Sox21 regulated Anapc10, which influenced the stability of EMT-related proteins, and its deficiency caused ameloblasts to trans-differentiate into hair cells. The findings highlighted Sox21's essential role in maintaining dental epithelial identity and preventing aberrant EMT, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for hair loss conditions.
