Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41813653›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of oral science2026

Gli2 and Gli3 synergistically mediate HH-TGF-β crosstalk in mesenchymal progenitor cells to orchestrate tooth root morphogenesis.

Tao Zhou, Linyang Huang, Yaxin Xie, Yijia Yin, Yufei Yao, Li Mei, Paul R Cooper, Hu Zhao, Xianglong Han, Junjun Jing

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of oral science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Tao Zhou *State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Linyang Huang *State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Yaxin XieState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Yijia YinState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Yufei YaoState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Li MeiFaculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0001-7856-8091
Paul R CooperFaculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Hu ZhaoChinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0002-2961-0086
Xianglong HanState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. xhan@scu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0001-7650-8204
Junjun JingState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. junjunjing@scu.edu.cn.ORCID 0009-0002-8608-8316

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 82271022National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 82370915National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) U24A20712
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Hedgehog (HH) signaling is essential in directing the fate determination of postmigratory cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs) to ensure proper craniofacial development. Gli transcription factors (TFs) are established as primary effectors of HH signaling, yet their distinct roles and regulatory mechanisms in governing cell commitment and differentiation of postmigratory CNCCs remain poorly understood. Here, using tooth root as a model, we combined transgenic mouse models with bioinformatic analyses to interrogate the functions of Gli2 and Gli3 in CNCC-derived root progenitor cells of the mouse molar. We revealed that loss of Gli3 alone in dental mesenchymal root progenitor cells caused shortened roots and that concurrent loss of Gli2 and Gli3 exacerbated root malformations, concomitant with profound impairments in cell proliferation and multilineage differentiation, suggesting a synergistic interaction between Gli2 and Gli3 during tooth root development. Mechanistically, Gli2 and Gli3 cooperatively regulated the transcription of Acvr2b, thereby modulating the activity of TGF-β/SMAD signaling within the dental mesenchyme. This Gli2/Gli3-TGF-β signaling cascade was critical for the lineage specification of tooth root progenitor cells during molar morphogenesis. Collectively, this work uncovers synergistic interactions of Gli2 and Gli3 in orchestrating tooth root morphogenesis and provides a novel insight into HH-TGF-β crosstalk in cell fate decisions of postmigratory CNCCs.

Indexed as

Hedgehog ProteinsKruppel-Like Transcription FactorsMesenchymal Stem CellsNerve Tissue ProteinsOdontogenesisTooth RootTransforming Growth Factor betaZinc Finger Protein Gli2Zinc Finger Protein Gli3AnimalsCell DifferentiationCell ProliferationMiceMice, TransgenicMorphogenesisNeural CrestGli2 protein, mouseGli3 protein, mouseHedgehog ProteinsKruppel-Like Transcription FactorsNerve Tissue ProteinsTransforming Growth Factor betaZinc Finger Protein Gli2Zinc Finger Protein Gli3

Identifiers

PMID41813653
PMCPMC12979836

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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 OpenQuestion graph.