The role of Irf6 in tooth epithelial invagination

abstract Article history:Received for publication 21 October 2011Revised 3 February 2012Accepted 7 February 2012Available online 14 February 2012Keywords:IkkαIrf6WntIncisorInvaginationEpitheliumTooth development Thickening and the subsequent invagination of the epithelium are an important initial step in ectodermalorgan development. Ikkα has been shown to play a critical role in controlling epithelial growth, since Ikkαmutant mice show protrusions (evaginations) of incisor tooth, whisker and hair follicle epithelium ratherthan invagination. We show here thatmutation of theInterferon regulatory factor (Irf)family, Irf6 also resultsin evagination of incisor epithelium. In common with Ikkα mutants, Irf6 mutant evagination occurs in a NF-κB-independent manner and shows the same molecular changes as those in Ikkα mutants. Irf6 thus also playsa critical role in regulating epithelial invagination. In addition, we also found that canonical Wnt signaling isupregulated in evaginated incisor epithelium of both Ikkα and Irf6 mutant embryos.© 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.