Runx2 deficiency in junctional epithelium of mouse molars decreases the expressions of E-cadherin and junctional adhesion molecule 1

AbstractJunctional epithelium (JE) attaching to the enamel surface seals gaps around the teeth, functioning as the first line of gingival defense. Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) plays a role in epithelial cell fate, and the deficiency ofRunx2 in JE causes periodontal destruction, while its effect on the barrier function of JE remains largely unexplored. In the present study, hematoxylin –eosin (H&E) staining revealed the morphological differences of JE between wild-type (WT) andRunx2 conditional knockout (cKO) mice. We speculated that these changes were related to the down-regulation of E-cadherin (E-cad), junctional adhesion molecule 1 (JAM1), and integrin β6 (ITGB6) in JE. Moreover, immunohistochemistry (IHC) was conducted to assess the expressions of these proteins. To verify the relationship betweenRunx2 and the three above-mentioned proteins, human gingival epithelial cells (HGEs) were cultured for in vitro experiment. The expression ofRunx2 in HEGs was depleted by lentivirus. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting analysis were adopted to analyze the differences in mRNA and protein expressions. Taken together,Runx2 played a crucial role in maintaining the structure and function integrality of JE via regulating the expressions of E-cad and JAM1.
Source: Journal of Molecular Histology - Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research