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Updated: Aug 26, 2026
Analysis of Retinoic Acid-induced Neural Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells in Two and Three-dimensional Embryoid Bodies
Published on: April 22, 2017
Retinoic acid and retinoic acid receptors in craniofacial development
1Molecular Haematology Unit, Institute of Child Health, 30 Guildford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK.
Abstract:
Interest in retinoids and craniofacial development originated independently from nutritional and teratological studies; however, the site of action of retinoids in normal development remains contentious. Recent transgenic strategies have shown that retinoic acid and nuclear retinoid receptors are required for the morphogenetic specification of cranial neural crest cells and their mesenchymal derivatives during craniofacial development. Interestingly, while some aspects of the RA teratogenicity have been shown to be receptor-mediated, there is as yet no clear evidence that this is the case for the embryonic head and face. Hox genes are one important set of targets for RA in the developing neural primordium and cranial neural crest, but it remains unclear as to how retinoid-mediated regulation of such targets is realized as the morphogenetic specification of cell fate.
Insights
Retinoic acid is crucial for craniofacial development, guiding neural crest cell specification. Its precise role in embryonic head and face development and regulation of Hox genes remains under investigation.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Retinoids and craniofacial development studies originated separately.
- The exact site of retinoid action in normal development is debated.
- Retinoid teratogenicity mechanisms are not fully understood for all embryonic structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of retinoic acid (RA) and its receptors in craniofacial development.
- To clarify the involvement of retinoid signaling in the morphogenetic specification of cranial neural crest cells.
- To explore the relationship between retinoid action and Hox gene regulation in craniofacial development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized transgenic strategies to study retinoid signaling.
- Examined the effects of retinoic acid and nuclear retinoid receptors on cranial neural crest cells.
- Investigated retinoid regulation of Hox genes in developing neural primordium and cranial neural crest.
Main Results:
- Transgenic studies indicate retinoic acid and nuclear retinoid receptors are essential for cranial neural crest cell specification.
- Evidence suggests some RA teratogenicity is receptor-mediated, but this is not definitively shown for embryonic head and face.
- Hox genes are identified as key targets of RA in the developing neural primordium and cranial neural crest.
Conclusions:
- Retinoids, specifically retinoic acid, play a vital role in the morphogenetic specification of craniofacial structures via neural crest cells.
- The receptor-dependent mechanisms of RA teratogenicity in the embryonic head and face require further elucidation.
- Understanding how retinoid regulation of Hox genes contributes to cell fate specification in craniofacial development is an ongoing area of research.
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