Curr Stem Cell Res Ther. 2017 Jul 13. doi: 10.2174/1574888X12666170713123647. [Epub ahead of print]

The modulation of MicroRNAs in tooth root development.

Zhang R¹, Li T¹.

Abstract

Tooth root development begins after the completion of tooth crown development, both of them undergo a series of interactions between epithelium and the adjacent mesenchymal cells. In contrast to the study in tooth crown formation, little is known about the regulatory mechanisms of tooth root development. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate protein expression through post-transcriptional mechanisms. They participate in a broad aspect of biological processes from the control of development to tumorigenesis. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge of miRNA characteristics in regulating morphogenesis of root odontoblasts, periodontal tissues, and how they interplay with the signaling molecules during these processes.