A WWP2–PTEN–KLF5 Signaling Axis Regulates Odontoblast Differentiation and Dentinogenesis in Mice

The study investigates the role of the WWP2–PTEN–KLF5 signaling axis in odontoblast differentiation and dentinogenesis in mice. WWP2 promotes odontoblastic differentiation by targeting PTEN for degradation, which alleviates PTEN's suppression of KLF5 transcriptional activity. Wwp2 knockout mice exhibited dental defects such as thinner dentin, widened predentin, and fewer dentinal tubules, indicating the importance of this signaling pathway in tooth development. The findings suggest that WWP2 is crucial for proper dental tissue formation and could be a potential therapeutic target for dental defects.