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Development (Cambridge, England) Nov 2022Craniofacial development requires precise spatiotemporal regulation of multiple signaling pathways that crosstalk to coordinate the growth and patterning of the skull...
Craniofacial development requires precise spatiotemporal regulation of multiple signaling pathways that crosstalk to coordinate the growth and patterning of the skull with surrounding tissues. Recent insights into these signaling pathways and previously uncharacterized progenitor cell populations have refined our understanding of skull patterning, bone mineralization and tissue homeostasis. Here, we touch upon classical studies and recent advances with an emphasis on developmental and signaling mechanisms that regulate the osteoblast lineage for the calvaria, which forms the roof of the skull. We highlight studies that illustrate the roles of osteoprogenitor cells and cranial suture-derived stem cells for proper calvarial growth and homeostasis. We also discuss genes and signaling pathways that control suture patency and highlight how perturbing the molecular regulation of these pathways leads to craniosynostosis. Finally, we discuss the recently discovered tissue and signaling interactions that integrate skull and cerebrovascular development, and the potential implications for both cerebrospinal fluid hydrodynamics and brain waste clearance in craniosynostosis.
Topics: Humans; Skull; Cranial Sutures; Craniosynostoses; Homeostasis; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 36408946
DOI: 10.1242/dev.201017 -
Current Opinion in Pediatrics Dec 2017When providing accurate clinical diagnosis and genetic counseling in craniosynostosis, the challenge is heightened by knowledge that etiology in any individual case may... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
When providing accurate clinical diagnosis and genetic counseling in craniosynostosis, the challenge is heightened by knowledge that etiology in any individual case may be entirely genetic, entirely environmental, or anything in between. This review will scope out how recent genetic discoveries from next-generation sequencing have impacted on the clinical genetic evaluation of craniosynostosis.
RECENT FINDINGS
Survey of a 13-year birth cohort of patients treated at a single craniofacial unit demonstrates that a genetic cause of craniosynostosis can be identified in one quarter of cases. The substantial contributions of mutations in two genes, TCF12 and ERF, is confirmed. Important recent discoveries are mutations of CDC45 and SMO in specific craniosynostosis syndromes, and of SMAD6 in nonsyndromic midline synostosis. The added value of exome or whole genome sequencing in the diagnosis of difficult cases is highlighted.
SUMMARY
Strategies to optimize clinical genetic diagnostic pathways by combining both targeted and next-generation sequencing are discussed. In addition to improved genetic counseling, recent discoveries spotlight the important roles of signaling through the bone morphogenetic protein and hedgehog pathways in cranial suture biogenesis, as well as a key requirement for adequate cell division in suture maintenance.
Topics: Craniosynostoses; Genetic Counseling; Genetic Markers; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genetic Testing; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Humans; Mutation; Exome Sequencing
PubMed: 28914635
DOI: 10.1097/MOP.0000000000000542 -
In Vivo (Athens, Greece) 2023Craniosynostosis refers to the early fusion of one or many cranial sutures, causing craniofacial abnormalities observed in 1:2,500 births worldwide. In most cases (85%),... (Review)
Review
Craniosynostosis refers to the early fusion of one or many cranial sutures, causing craniofacial abnormalities observed in 1:2,500 births worldwide. In most cases (85%), craniosynostosis is presented as sporadic anomaly (non-syndromic craniosynostosis), while in other cases (15%) as part of syndromes (syndromic craniosynostosis). Patients with syndromic disorder usually have more severe symptoms compared to those with single suture synostosis. Most common syndromes of craniosynostosis include Pfeiffer, Apert, Crouzon, Jackson-Weiss, Muenke and Boston type MSX2-related syndrome. The main gene mutations in craniosynostosis involve FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3, TWIST1 and MSX2, which encode key factors influencing cranial bone morphogenesis. The main therapeutic approaches are surgical as discussed in this review, and the type of therapy depends on the graveness of the incident.
Topics: Humans; Craniosynostoses; Skull; Mutation; Syndrome
PubMed: 36593018
DOI: 10.21873/invivo.13052 -
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Jan 2018A number of textbooks, review articles, and case reports highlight the potential comorbidity of choanal atresia in craniosynostosis patients. However, the lack of a... (Review)
Review
A number of textbooks, review articles, and case reports highlight the potential comorbidity of choanal atresia in craniosynostosis patients. However, the lack of a precise definition of choanal atresia within the current craniosynostosis literature and widely varying methods of detection and diagnosis have produced uncertainty regarding the true coincidence of these conditions. The authors review the anatomy and embryologic basis of the human choanae, provide an overview of choanal atresia, and analyze the available literature that links choanal atresia and craniosynostosis. Review of over 50 case reports that describe patients diagnosed with both conditions reveals inconsistent descriptions of choanal atresia and limited use of definitive diagnostic methodologies. The authors further present preliminary analysis of three-dimensional medical head computed tomographic scans of children diagnosed with craniosynostosis syndromes (e.g., Apert, Pfeiffer, Muenke, and Crouzon) and typically developing children and, although finding no evidence of choanal atresia, report the potentially reduced nasal airway volumes in children diagnosed with Apert and Pfeiffer syndromes. A recent study of the Fgfr2c Crouzon/Pfeiffer syndrome mouse model similarly found a significant reduction in nasal airway volumes in littermates carrying this FGFR2 mutation relative to unaffected littermates, without detection of choanal atresia. The significant correlation between specific craniosynostosis syndromes and reduced nasal airway volume in mouse models for craniosynostosis and human pediatric patients indicates comorbidity of choanal and nasopharyngeal dysmorphologies and craniosynostosis conditions. Genetic, developmental, and epidemiologic sources of these interactions are areas particularly worthy of further research.
Topics: Abnormalities, Multiple; Animals; Choanal Atresia; Craniosynostoses; Genetic Markers; Humans; Mice; Mutation; Nasopharynx; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2; Syndrome
PubMed: 29280877
DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000003928 -
Anales de Pediatria (Barcelona, Spain :... Jul 2017
Topics: Craniosynostoses; Humans; Infant; Phenotype
PubMed: 27106663
DOI: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2016.02.005 -
Anesthesiology Nov 2011
Topics: Craniosynostoses; Humans; Infant, Newborn
PubMed: 21804379
DOI: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e31822c5d4e -
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia... Jul 2018Craniosynostosis (CS) is a complex condition consisting of the early fusion of one or more cranial sutures in the intrauterine stage. The affected infant exhibits... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Craniosynostosis (CS) is a complex condition consisting of the early fusion of one or more cranial sutures in the intrauterine stage. The affected infant exhibits abnormal head shape at time of birth or shortly thereafter. It can be observed in normal individuals (non-syndromic CS or NSCS) or as a part of a multisystem syndrome. The purposes of the present article were to carry out a scoping review on Non-Syndromic CS and to discuss the most important findings retrieved.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The steps of this scoping review were as follows: first, to pose a research question; second, to identify relevant studies to answer the research question; third, to select and retrieve the studies; fourth, to chart the critical data, and finally, to collate, summarize, and report the results from the most important articles. Relevant articles published over a 20-year period were identified and retrieved from five Internet databases: PubMed; EMBASE; Cochrane Library; Google Scholar, and EBSCO.
RESULTS
Fourteen articles were finally included in the present scoping review. The following four most important clinical issues are discussed: (i) normal cranial development, clinical manifestations, and pathogenesis of NCSC; (ii) clinical evaluation of NCSC; (iii) treatment and post-surgical follow-up; and (iv) additional considerations.
CONCLUSIONS
NSCS may be present with associated head shapes. Multiple early surgical reconstructive options are currently available for the disorder. Pediatric Dentistry practitioners must be familiarized with this condition and form part of a multi-approach health team as those responsible for the opportune oral health care of the affected child.
Topics: Child; Craniosynostoses; Humans
PubMed: 29924758
DOI: 10.4317/medoral.22328 -
American Journal of Human Genetics Sep 2015Craniosynostosis, the premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures of the skull, provides a paradigm for investigating the interplay of genetic and environmental... (Review)
Review
Craniosynostosis, the premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures of the skull, provides a paradigm for investigating the interplay of genetic and environmental factors leading to malformation. Over the past 20 years molecular genetic techniques have provided a new approach to dissect the underlying causes; success has mostly come from investigation of clinical samples, and recent advances in high-throughput DNA sequencing have dramatically enhanced the study of the human as the preferred "model organism." In parallel, however, we need a pathogenetic classification to describe the pathways and processes that lead to cranial suture fusion. Given the prenatal onset of most craniosynostosis, investigation of mechanisms requires more conventional model organisms; principally the mouse, because of similarities in cranial suture development. We present a framework for classifying genetic causes of craniosynostosis based on current understanding of cranial suture biology and molecular and developmental pathogenesis. Of note, few pathologies result from complete loss of gene function. Instead, biochemical mechanisms involving haploinsufficiency, dominant gain-of-function and recessive hypomorphic mutations, and an unusual X-linked cellular interference process have all been implicated. Although few of the genes involved could have been predicted based on expression patterns alone (because the genes play much wider roles in embryonic development or cellular homeostasis), we argue that they fit into a limited number of functional modules active at different stages of cranial suture development. This provides a useful approach both when defining the potential role of new candidate genes in craniosynostosis and, potentially, for devising pharmacological approaches to therapy.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Cell Lineage; Cranial Sutures; Craniosynostoses; Humans; Mice; Models, Biological; Osteogenesis; Phenotype; Risk Factors
PubMed: 26340332
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2015.07.006 -
Child's Nervous System : ChNS :... Sep 2012Premature closure of the metopic suture results in a growth restriction of the frontal bones, which leads to a skull malformation known as trigonocephaly. Over the... (Review)
Review
Premature closure of the metopic suture results in a growth restriction of the frontal bones, which leads to a skull malformation known as trigonocephaly. Over the course of recent decades, its incidence has been rising, currently making it the second most common type of craniosynostosis. Treatment consists of a cranioplasty, usually preformed before the age of 1 year. Metopic synostosis is linked with an increased level of neurodevelopmental delays. Theories on the etiology of these delays range from a reduced volume of the anterior cranial fossa to intrinsic malformations of the brain. This paper aims to provide an overview of this entity by giving an update on the epidemiology, etiology, evolution of treatment, follow-up, and neurodevelopment of metopic synostosis.
Topics: Cognition Disorders; Craniosynostoses; Developmental Disabilities; Frontal Bone; History, 19th Century; Humans
PubMed: 22872249
DOI: 10.1007/s00381-012-1803-z -
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Mar 2022Facial sutures contribute significantly to postnatal facial development, but their potential role in craniofacial disease is understudied. Since interest in their... (Review)
Review
Facial sutures contribute significantly to postnatal facial development, but their potential role in craniofacial disease is understudied. Since interest in their development and physiology peaked in the mid-twentieth century, facial sutures have not garnered nearly the same clinical research interest as calvarial sutures or cranial base endochondral articulations. In addition to reinforcing the complex structure of the facial skeleton, facial sutures absorb mechanical stress and generally remain patent into and beyond adolescence, as they mediate growth and refine the shape of facial bones. However, premature closure of these sites of postnatal osteogenesis leads to disrupted growth vectors and consequent dysmorphologies. Although abnormality in individual sutures results in isolated facial deformities, we posit that generalized abnormality across multiple sutures may be involved in complex craniofacial conditions such as syndromic craniosynostosis. In this work, the authors comprehensively review 27 key facial sutures, including physiologic maturation and closure, contributions to postnatal facial development, and clinical consequences of premature closure.
Topics: Cranial Sutures; Craniosynostoses; Facial Bones; Humans
PubMed: 35196691
DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000008816