Figure 5
Smoc2-GFP reporter reveals Smoc2 activation following injury. (A–C) In Smoc2-GFP reporter mice, Smoc2-driven GFP immunolocalization, weakly detected in the non-injured first molar, appears increased 4 days after molar extraction injury in adults. Smoc2-driven GFP is detected in periodontal tissue between root and bone (A), and is increased at 4 days after tooth injury (B). The increase in GFP was quantitated by RT-PCR, showing 40% higher GFP levels at day 4 (relative to Gapdh). (D–H) TRAP staining shows an increase of osteoclast cells 7 days after tooth injury in Smoc2−/− mutants (E,G), especially around the M2 roots. The resorption of M2 root is observed in a Smoc2−/− mutant with adjacent osteoclasts (G, red arrowhead). In the periodontal area, TRAP-positive cells were counted around the root-bone interface, five similar sections from each sample (magnification ×100) were captured and assessed using a HC2500 image analysis system (Fuji Photo Film, Tokyo, Japan) and the number of TRAP positive cells in each area was counted. Six independent samples were analyzed for each group.
