Angiogenetic markers expressed in the human tooth germ development

Objectives: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key regulator of blood vessel endothelium. However there is little known about the role of VEGF and VEGFR-2 expression in dental papilla, ameloblasts and odontoblasts in developing tooth germ.

Method: We examined immunohistochemical localization of VEGF and its receptors, and showed the specific expression pattern of VEGF and VEGF receptor in human deciduous tooth from cap stage to late bell stage in the human fetus.

Results: The intensity of the immunoreactivity to VEGF and its receptor VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) were positive in inner enamel epithelium at the cap stage and became dispersed from negative to moderately positive in the bell stage. At the late bell stage, the intensity of VEGF immunoreactivity was mainly positive but was weak for VEGFR-2. The intensity of VEGF and VEGFR-2 in odontoblasts is increased from cap stage to late bell stage. The statistical significance of differences in the percentages of cases with different reactivity levels for VEGF and VEGFR-2 was analyzed by G-tests.

Conclusions: We postulate that the different expression of VEGF in inner enamel epithelium, ameloblast and odontoblast during each stage of human tooth development may affect a tooth germ formation.