Figure 2.

Schematic illustrations of characteristics of Gli1-positive cells in mature teeth. (a) After tamoxifen administration in iGli1/Tomato mice, Gli1-positive cells are shown to express Tomato red fluorescence. Cells that once expressed Tomato red fluorescence continuously emit this fluorescence even after cell division. Using this system, it is possible to trace the differentiation process of Gli1-positive cells and their progeny cells. (b) Gli1-positive cells exhibit high colony-forming unit fibroblast (CFU-F) activity. These cells also have trilineage potential to form osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes in vitro. (c) After tooth transplantation into subcutaneous tissue, Gli1-positive cells differentiate into odontoblasts, osteoblasts, and fibroblasts during tissue regeneration.