A Roadmap for the Human Oral and Craniofacial Cell Atlas

Area of Science:

• Integrative biology
• Genomics
• Cellular and molecular biology

Background:

• Oral and craniofacial tissues possess diverse cell types essential for vital functions like breathing, feeding, and communication.
• Current understanding of cell types and states in human postnatal oral and craniofacial complex is limited.
• Single-cell and spatial multiomics have advanced tissue annotation in other human systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the Oral and Craniofacial Bionetwork, part of the Human Cell Atlas.
• To leverage single-cell and spatial multiomics for understanding human oral and craniofacial tissues in health.
• To investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying common and rare diseases of the craniofacial complex.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing single-cell and spatial multiomics assays (genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics).
• Collaborative efforts integrating data from global partner laboratories.
• Focus on annotating cell types and molecular networks across development, maintenance, aging, and disease.

Main Results:

• Initial multiomics assays have identified key cell types supporting oral tissues.
• The network aims to reveal a comprehensive cellular and molecular atlas of craniofacial tissues.
• The approach will elucidate how factors like age, sex, and ancestry influence these tissues.

Conclusions:

• The Oral and Craniofacial Bionetwork is crucial for high-resolution understanding of craniofacial biology in health and disease.
• This initiative will create the first Human Oral and Craniofacial Cell Atlas.
• Integration of multiomics data will advance diagnostics and therapeutic strategies for craniofacial conditions.