Molecular Mechanisms for Short Root Anomaly.

Abstract

Short root anomaly (SRA) is a dental disorder that presents an abnormal root morphology with short and blunt dental roots. In this situation, many dental treatments face a difficult challenge, especially orthodontic and prosthodontic treatments. Therefore, an understanding of how SRA develops is urgently needed. Here we describe that the abnormal expression of nuclear factor I C-type (Nfic), osterix (Osx), hedgehog (Hh), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), Smad, Wnt, β-catenin, and dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) lead to SRA. These factors interact with each other and constitute complicated signaling networks in tooth formation. Specifically, BMP signaling inhibits the activity of Wnt/β-catenin direc.