Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39256700›Full record

ArticleBMC biology2024

Single-cell RNA-seq analysis of rat molars reveals cell identity and driver genes associated with dental mesenchymal cell differentiation.

Yingchun Zheng, Ting Lu, Leitao Zhang, Zhongzhi Gan, Aoxi Li, Chuandong He, Fei He, Sha He, Jian Zhang, Fu Xiong

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC biology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Identification of a Force-Induced Sox9Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026
    Article
  3. International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Yingchun ZhengDepartment of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China.
Ting LuDepartment of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China.
Leitao ZhangDepartment of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China.
Zhongzhi GanDepartment of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China.
Aoxi LiDepartment of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China.
Chuandong HeDepartment of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China.
Fei HeDepartment of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China.
Sha HeBioinformatics Section, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China. hesha05@smu.edu.cn.
Jian ZhangDepartment of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China. zhangjiansmu@smu.edu.cn.
Fu XiongDepartment of Medical Genetics, Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China. xiongfu@smu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in tooth morphogenesis have been the research focus in the fields of tooth and bone development. However, the cell population in molars at the late bell stage and the mechanisms of hard tissue formation and mineralization remain limited knowledge.

resultsHere, we used the rat mandibular first and second molars as models to perform single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis to investigate cell identity and driver genes related to dental mesenchymal cell differentiation during the late bell hard tissue formation stage. We identified seven main cell types and investigated the heterogeneity of mesenchymal cells. Subsequently, we identified novel cell marker genes, including Pclo in dental follicle cells, Wnt10a in pre-odontoblasts, Fst and Igfbp2 in periodontal ligament cells, and validated the expression of Igfbp3 in the apical pulp. The dynamic model revealed three differentiation trajectories within mesenchymal cells, originating from two types of dental follicle cells and apical pulp cells. Apical pulp cell differentiation is associated with the genes Ptn and Satb2, while dental follicle cell differentiation is associated with the genes Tnc, Vim, Slc26a7, and Fgfr1. Cluster-specific regulons were analyzed by pySCENIC. In addition, the odontogenic function of driver gene TNC was verified in the odontoblastic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells. The expression of osteoclast differentiation factors was found to be increased in macrophages of the mandibular first molar.

conclusionsOur results revealed the cell heterogeneity of molars in the late bell stage and identified driver genes associated with dental mesenchymal cell differentiation. These findings provide potential targets for diagnosing dental hard tissue diseases and tooth regeneration.

Indexed as

Cell DifferentiationMesenchymal Stem CellsMolarRNA-SeqSingle-Cell AnalysisAnimalsOdontogenesisRatsSingle-Cell Gene Expression AnalysisCell differentiationDental mesenchymeDriver genesMacrophagesSingle-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq)TNC

Identifiers

PMID39256700
PMCPMC11389520

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.