The role of Axin2⁺ cells in periodontal tissue development and regeneration

As a highly conserved signal pathway in evolution, the WNT signaling pathway plays an essential role in periodontium growth, development and injury repair. The Axin-associated protein Axin2 is a direct effector molecule of the WNT signaling pathway and labels WNT-responsive cells well. Studies have shown that Axin2-positive (Axin2⁺) cells in the periodontium have the potential for self-renewal, replication and multidirectional differentiation. This article reviews the temporal and spatial distribution of Axin2⁺ cells in periodontal tissue development and the role and regulatory mechanism of Axin2⁺ cells in periodontal tissue development, regeneration and tissue remodeling to provide new ideas for periodontal tissue regeneration. The literature review showed that Axin2⁺ cells were the main cell source of periodontium development, and Axin2⁺ cells played essential roles in tooth extraction socket healing, implant osseointegration, periodontal tissue remodeling and junctional epithelium regeneration. The function of Axin2⁺ cells was positively regulated by the canonical WNT signaling pathway. However, the regulatory mechanisms of other signaling pathways on Axin2⁺ cells remain to be elucidated.