title: The genetic basis of craniofacial and dental abnormalities.
abstract: The embryonic head development, including the formation of dental structures, is a complex and delicate process guided by specific genetic programs. Genetic changes and environmental factors can disturb the execution of these programs and result in abnormalities in orofacial and dental structures. Orofacial clefts and hypodontia/ oligodontia are examples of such abnormalities frequently seen in dental clinics. An insight into the mechanisms and genes involved in the formation of orofacial and dental structures has been gradually gained by genetic analysis of families and by the use of experimental vertebrate models such as the mouse and chick models. The development of novel clinical therapies for orofacial and dental pathological conditions depends very much on a detailed knowledge of the molecular and cellular processes that are involved in head formation.
authors.affiliation: University of Zurich, Institute of Oral Biology, Zurich, Switzerland. thaleiakous@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Thaleia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kouskoura
authors.forename: Natassa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fragou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alexiou
authors.forename: Nessy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Katsaros
authors.forename: Thimios A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Mitsiadis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000848:Anodontia / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051957:MSX1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D009432:Neural Crest; D051764:PAX9 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000196:embryology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D012886:Skull / Q000196:embryology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D051957:MSX1 Transcription Factor; C484083:MSX1 protein, human; C484084:Msx1 protein, mouse; D051764:PAX9 Transcription Factor; C497323:PAX9 protein, human; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C488759:Pax9 protein, mouse; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors