Application of cell lineage tracing combined with immunofluorescence in the study of dentinogenesis

Abstract

The cell lineage tracing system has been used predominantly in developmental biology studies. The Cre recombinase allows for the activation of the reporter in a specific cell line and all progeny. In this protocol, we will introduce how the cell lineage tracing technique can be performed in the investigation of dentinogenesis by using Gli1-CreERT2; R26RTomato compound mice. Moreover, we combined cell lineage tracing in conjunction with immunofluorescence—to further define cell fate by analyzing the expression of specific cell markers for odontoblasts. This combination not only broadens the application of cell lineage tracing but also simplifies the generation of compound mice. More importantly, the number, location, and differentiation status of parent cell progeny can be displayed simultaneously, providing more information than cell lineage tracing or immunofluorescence alone. In conclusion, the co-application of cell lineage tracing technique and immunofluorescence is a powerful tool for investigating cell biology in the field of dentinogenesis and tooth development.