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Shuo Chen, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor

Developmental Dentistry

Dr. Shuo Chen's lab research interests are focused on several areas:

1) To determine molecular mechanisms of the tissue-specific dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) during tooth development. Mutations of this gene are associated with dentinogenesis imperfecta (DGI). DGI is the most common dentin genetic disorder. We have discovered that domain (s) of DSP as ligands bind to cellular membrane receptor (s) and regulate intracellular signal pathways during odontogenesis. The DSP domains as tissue-specific niches induce dental pulp cell differentiation and dentin regeneration.

2) To determine roles of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (Bmp2) during tooth development. Using Bmp2 conditional knock-out (cKO) animal models, we are studying how Bmp2 signal controls dentin and enamel formation. We have uncovered that Bmp2 regulates tooth formation via a complex signals including epigenetic, transcriptional and posttranslational pathways.

3) To determine biological functions of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in vitro and in vivo during tooth formation. We found MMP-9 is able to catalyze amelogenin and DSPP into specific fragments in vitro and in vivo. Teeth with MMP-9 null mice display phenotypes similar to amelogenesis imperfeacta (AI) and DGI. Currently, we are studying how this enzyme is involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling for tooth formation.