Irx1 mechanisms for oral epithelial basal stem cell plasticity during reepithelialization after injury.

ABSTRACT: The oral mucosa undergoes daily insults, and stem cells in the epithelial basal cell layer regenerate gingiva tissue to maintain oral health. The Iroquois Homeobox 1 (IRX1) protein is expressed in the stem cell niches in human/mouse oral epithelium and mesenchyme under homeostasis. We found that Irx1+/- heterozygous (Het) mice have delayed wound closure, delayed morphological changes of regenerated epithelium, and defective keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation during wound healing. RNA-Seq analyses between WT and Irx1+/- mice at 3 days postinjury (dpi) found impaired epithelial migration and decreased keratinocyte-related genes upon injury. IRX1-expressing cells are found in the gingival epithelial basal cell layer, a stem cell niche for gingival maintenance. IRX1-expressing cell

SUBMITTER: Su D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11721312 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature