title: Dkk1, -2, and -3 expression in mouse craniofacial development.
abstract: The Dickkopf family is important for embryogenesis and postnatal development and growth. Dkk1 is a strong head inducer and knockout of this gene leads to absence of anterior head structures, which are predominantly formed through neural crest migration. During early craniofacial development, Dkk1 to Dkk3 show developmentally regulated expression in a number of elements. However, their expression and roles in late times of craniofacial development are largely unknown. This study focuses on the expression profile of Dkk1-3 on late embryonic and early postnatal stages. It was found that Dkks were involved in a variety of craniofacial developmental processes, including facial outgrowth, myogenesis, osteogenesis, palatogenesis, olfactory epithelium and tooth development; and the expression persisted to postnatal stage in the muscles and bones. Their expression patterns suggest important roles in these processes; further study is warranted to elucidate these roles.
authors.affiliation: Section of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies V91, 5009, Bergen, Norway. Xuguang.Nie@biomed.uib.no
authors.forename: Xuguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Nie
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000818:Animals; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005865:Gestational Age; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D051379:Mice; D012886:Skull / Q000196:embryology*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C501127:Dkk1 protein, mouse; C405060:Dkk2 protein, mouse; C405061:Dkk3 protein, mouse; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins