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Desmosomes in disease: a guide for clinicians
A Celentano1,2, N Cirillo1
1Melbourne Dental School and Oral Health CRC, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Oral Diseases
|June 23, 2016
Summary
Desmosomal diseases impair tissue integrity, impacting oral health. Understanding molecular changes aids diagnosis for dentists and oral medicine specialists.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Oral medicine
- Pathology
Background:
- Desmosomes are crucial for tissue integrity.
- Impaired desmosome function leads to numerous diseases.
- Many desmosome-related diseases manifest in the oral cavity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review diseases affecting desmosomes.
- To emphasize clinical manifestations, diagnostics, and investigations.
- To highlight implications for dental and oral medicine practitioners.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of autoimmune, infectious, genetic, and neoplastic diseases targeting desmosomes.
- Focus on clinical presentations.
- Analysis of diagnostic pathways and laboratory tests.
Main Results:
- Desmosomal dysfunction underlies a wide spectrum of diseases.
- Oral manifestations are common in desmosomal disorders.
- Understanding molecular pathology improves diagnostic accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Desmosomes are vital for tissue integrity, especially in the oral mucosa.
- Knowledge of desmosomal diseases aids in clinical diagnosis and management.
- Novel diagnostic tools are emerging from molecular insights into desmosomal dysfunction.
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