Influence of long and short arms of X chromosome on maxillary molar crown morphology.

Mitsuko Nakayama,Paula Pesonen,Osamu Kondo,Lassi Alvesalo,Raija Lähdesmäki

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0207070

Mitsuko Nakayama, Paula Pesonen + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207070

Copy DOI

Abstract

Although genes on the human X chromosome reportedly influence tooth crown morphology, little is known about X chromosome activation or inactivation systems relevant to morphological variations. We assessed the relationships between tooth crown size and crown morphological traits in females with Turner syndrome, the variants of which include complete absence of one X chromosome, lack of the short arm (Xp), or duplication of the long arms (Xq), and then estimated the functions of Xp and Xq in the process of unilateral X chromosome inactivation during tooth crown development. The mesiodistal and buccolingual diameters in the maxillary first (M1) and second (M2) permanent molars were compared among X chromosome karyotypes by multiple regression analyses, and their relationships with the development of Carabelli’s cusp and the distolingual cusp were analyzed using logistic regression analysis.The crown sizes increased in the order of the 46,X,i(Xq) karyotype, 45,X and 45,X/46,XX karyotypes, and control group. A lower frequency of Carabelli’s cusp and higher frequency of a reduced distolingual cusp in M1 were characteristics of Turner syndrome. The overall M1 and M2 crown sizes differed among the X chromosome karyotypes, whereas a smaller crown size was associated with a reduced distolingual cusp but not with Carabelli’s cusp. Considering the differences in chromosome arrangement among females with Turner syndrome and the process of unilateral X chromosome inactivation, the observed results can be considered in terms of quantity or number of promoters/inhibitors during tooth crown development.The X chromosome karyotypes have a strong influence on the overall crown sizes of the M1 and M2 molars because those karyotypes with variable numbers of active gene regions directly influence tooth germ development in an early stage of human odontogenesis. The later forming cusps, such as the distolingual cusp and Carabelli’s cusp, may be affected by this developmental prerequisite.

Highlights

An increase or decrease in the number of human X chromosomes has various impacts on physical phenotypes in females
Tukey’s honestly significant difference (HSD) test revealed that more pairwise comparisons were significant in M1 than in M2, a significant difference was exclusively found in the comparison between population controls and females with Turner syndrome (TS) (S2 Table)
The reduction indices of M2/M1 were almost the same in females with the 46,X,i(Xq) and 45,X/46,XX karyotypes as in those with the 45,X karyotype, and all were larger than those of normal females (Table 1). These findings indicate that the tooth crown size of early-developing molars (i.e., M1) in females with TS was reduced to a greater degree and more strongly influenced by X chromosome aberration than the later-developing molars (M2)

Summary

Introduction

An increase or decrease in the number of human X chromosomes has various impacts on physical phenotypes in females. Females with the 45,X/46,XX karyotype are mosaics, with both a 45,X cell line and a 46,XX cell line; in contrast, those with the 46,X,i(Xq) karyotype possess one normal X chromosome and an isochromosome with two long arms. Their physical characteristics are similar to those of females with the 45,X karyotype; e.g., short stature [4,6]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion