Investigating the effect of exaggerated retinoid signaling for embryonic cranial muscle development

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18754
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57070:Developmental dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Uemura Yume 大阪大学, 歯学部附属病院, 医員 (90848251)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 顎顔面筋 / 顎顔面形成不全 / レチノイン酸シグナル / 胎児発生

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Congenital craniofacial defects are one of the most frequent symptoms which could be detected among all congenital diseases. Craniofacial defects could also be associated with craniofacial muscle malformation. However, the mechanism underlies cranial muscle deformities is largely unknown. In the present research project, we investigated the effect of exaggerated embryonic retinoid signaling and found severe defects in cranial muscle development. This is a new molecular mechanism to explain congenital cranial muscle defects which was published in an international journal.

Free Research Field

矯正歯科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

顎顔面筋の胎生期における発生メカニズムは体幹筋のそれに比較すると未解明な部分が多い。ヒト疾患においても先天的に顔面筋が欠損する場合がある事が知られているが細胞生物学的なメカニズムは不明である。今回の我々の解析から適切なレチノイン酸シグナルが胎生期における顔面筋の前駆細胞の発生に必要不可欠であることを解明した。本研究の成果は顎顔面筋の異常を伴う先天性疾患の新たな分子生物学的、細胞生物学的なメカニズムを解明したものであり将来的に新たな診断方法や治療方法の開発の基盤となる結果である。