Cell-specific patterns of Cbfa1 mRNA and protein expression in postnatal murine dental tissues

Cbfa1 (core binding factor alpha 1) is a transcription factor that is a key determinant of the osteoblastic lineage. Recent data showed that Cbfa1 is also highly expressed in early stages of tooth development and is involved in crown morphogenesis and cytodifferentiation of odontoblasts. Here we rep ort the mRNA expression and protein localization of Cbfa1 in the mouse dent ition in (later) stages of crown and root development. In addition to osteo blasts, osteocytes. chondrocytes. odontoblasts. dental follicle cells, ceme ntoblasts and periodontal ligament cells, we report also Cbfa1 expression i n dental epithelial cells (secretory and maturation ameloblasts) and severa l non-mineralizing cell types (hair follicles, ducts of salivary glands, an d junctional epithelium of the gingiva). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.