Expression of protein kinases C βI, βII, and VEGF during the differentiation of enamel epithelium in tooth development

Protein kinase C (PKC) is an important molecule involved in various cell function, and mediates induced secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF). It is hypothesized that PKC and VEGF may be associated with tooth development. Using the laser microdissection method and realtime reverse-transcription-polymerase chain-reaction (RT-PCR), we investigated the expression of PKC beta I and beta II, VEGF, and amelogenin ( used as a marker of differentiation to ameloblasts) in the inner and outer enamel epithelia, stellate reticulum, and dental papilla in each stage of the dental germ. We found that the expression levels of PKC beta I and beta II were increased in the inner enamel epithelium during the early bell stage. In addition, the increased expression levels of PKC beta I and beta II were accompanied by increased VEGF expression. These results indicate that PKC beta I, beta II, and VEGF are closely associated with the differentiation of the inner enamel epithelium to ameloblasts.