Closing the Gap: Mouse Models to Study Adhesion in Secondary Palatogenesis.

Area of Science:

• Developmental Biology
• Craniofacial Morphogenesis
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Secondary palatogenesis is essential for hard and soft palate formation, involving coordinated cellular events like proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and adhesion.
• Disruptions in craniofacial morphogenesis lead to orofacial clefting, such as cleft lip and cleft palate (CL/P), a common birth defect with numerous identified genetic causes.
• Recent advancements in in vitro assays, ex vivo cultures, and animal models have improved understanding of palate closure pathways, particularly PS patterning, growth, and medial epithelial seam dissolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the critical but understudied role of epithelial cell-cell adhesion in secondary palatogenesis.
• To provide an overview of available tools and mouse models for studying cell-cell adhesion during palate development.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on secondary palatogenesis, focusing on cell-cell adhesion.
• Analysis of in vitro cell-based assays, ex vivo palate cultures, and genetically engineered animal models.
• Examination of studies investigating PS patterning, growth, and medial epithelial seam dissolution.

Main Results:

• Epithelial cell-cell adhesion is a critical, yet understudied, process in secondary palatogenesis.
• Various cellular and molecular mechanisms contribute to the morphogenetic events during palate closure.
• Genetic alterations are strongly linked to orofacial clefts, emphasizing the complexity of palate development.

Conclusions:

• Understanding epithelial cell-cell adhesion is vital for deciphering the mechanisms of normal palate development and orofacial clefting.
• Further research utilizing advanced tools and models is necessary to elucidate the precise role of cell adhesion in palatogenesis.
• This review provides a foundation for future studies aimed at understanding and potentially preventing CL/P.