Odontoblast differentiation is regulated by an interplay between primary cilia and the canonical Wnt pathway

Primary cilium is a protruding cellular organelle that has various physiological functions, especially in sensory reception. While an avalanche of reports on primary cilia have been published, the function dental cells remains to be investigated. In this study, we focused dentin-producing odontoblasts. Odontoblasts, like most other cell types, possess cilia, which disappear upon knockdown intraflagellar transport protein 88. cilia-depleted cells, expression dentin sialoprotein, odontoblastic marker, was elevated, while deposition minerals slowed. This recapitulated by activation canonical Wnt pathway, also decreased ratio ciliated cells. pulp as they differentiated into odontoblasts, increased, whereas signaling activity repressed. Our results collectively underscore roles regulating differentiation through signaling. study implies existence feedback loop between and pathway.