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Molecular mechanisms of midfacial developmental defects
Author(s) -
Suzuki Akiko,
Sangani Dhruvee R.,
Ansari Afreen,
Iwata Junichi
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.24368
Subject(s) - biology , morphogenesis , hypoplasia , evolutionary biology , anatomy , developmental genetics , genetics , gene , regulation of gene expression
The morphogenesis of midfacial processes requires the coordination of a variety of cellular functions of both mesenchymal and epithelial cells to develop complex structures. Any failure or delay in midfacial development as well as any abnormal fusion of the medial and lateral nasal and maxillary prominences will result in developmental defects in the midface with a varying degree of severity, including cleft, hypoplasia, and midline expansion. Despite the advances in human genome sequencing technology, the causes of nearly 70% of all birth defects, which include midfacial development defects, remain unknown. Recent studies in animal models have highlighted the importance of specific signaling cascades and genetic‐environmental interactions in the development of the midfacial region. This review will summarize the current understanding of the morphogenetic processes and molecular mechanisms underlying midfacial birth defects based on mouse models with midfacial developmental abnormalities. Developmental Dynamics 245:276–293, 2016 . © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.