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Effect of Smo SiRNA-mediated Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Inhibition on Palatal Fusion

Qian Zhou1, Hai Feng Wu2, Yuan Wei3

  • 1Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Beijing Key Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.

Biomedical and Environmental Sciences : BES
|September 24, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Inhibiting the hedgehog signaling pathway with Smo siRNA in embryonic palatal shelves reduced fusion rates. This pathway inhibition likely decreases Smo and Gli1 protein levels, impacting palatal development.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • The hedgehog signaling pathway plays a critical role in embryonic development, including palate formation.
  • Dysregulation of this pathway is implicated in craniofacial abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of inhibiting the hedgehog signaling pathway on palatal shelf fusion in embryonic organ culture.
  • To determine the impact of Smo siRNA on Smo and Gli1 protein levels during palatal fusion.

Main Methods:

  • Organ culture of embryonic day 13 (E13) mouse palatal shelves.
  • Inhibition of hedgehog signaling using Smo siRNA (specifically siRNA 4) and cyclopamine.
  • Quantification of palatal shelf fusion rates.
  • Western blot analysis to measure Smo and Gli1 protein expression levels.

Main Results:

  • Hedgehog signaling pathway inhibition, using both cyclopamine and Smo siRNA, decreased palatal shelf fusion rates in organ culture.
  • Smo siRNA (siRNA 4) significantly reduced Smo protein levels by 64.8% compared to the control group.
  • Cyclopamine treatment significantly reduced Gli1 protein levels by 68.9% compared to the control group.

Conclusions:

  • Inhibition of the hedgehog signaling pathway negatively impacts palatal fusion in embryonic organ culture.
  • Downregulation of Smo and Gli1 proteins is a likely mechanism by which hedgehog signaling inhibition affects palatal fusion.

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