Neural crest E-cadherin loss drives cleft lip/palate by epigenetic modulation via pro-inflammatory gene-environment interaction.

Gene-environment interactions are believed to play a role in multifactorial phenotypes, although poorly described mechanistically. Cleft lip/palate (CLP), the most common craniofacial malformation, has been associated with both genetic and environmental factors, with little gene-environment interaction experimentally demonstrated. Here, we study CLP families harbouring CDH1/E-Cadherin variants with incomplete penetrance and we explore the association of pro-inflammatory conditions to CLP.

DNA methylation of the promoter region at the CREB1 binding site is a mechanism for the epigenetic regulation of brain-specific PKMζ.

Protein kinase M zeta, PKMζ, is a brain enriched kinase with a well characterized role in Long-Term Potentiation (LTP), the activity-dependent strengthening of synapses involved in long-term memory formation. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that maintain the tissue specificity of this kinase. Here, we characterized the epigenetic factors, mainly DNA methylation, regulating PKMζ expression in the human brain.

m hypomethylation as a mechanism for non-syndromic cleft lip and palate.

Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCLP), the most common human craniofacial malformation, is a complex disorder given its genetic heterogeneity and multifactorial component revealed by genetic, epidemiological, and epigenetic findings. Epigenetic variations associated with NSCLP have been identified; however, functional investigation has been limited. Here, we combined a reanalysis of NSCLP methylome data with genetic analysis and used both and approaches to dissect the functional effects of epigenetic changes.

Modeling Early Neural Crest Development via Induction from hiPSC-Derived Neural Plate Border-like Cells.

Neural crest cells (NCCs) are a multipotent and transient cell population that gives rise to many important tissues during human embryogenesis. Disturbances that occur during NCCs development may lead to numerous types of diseases and syndromes, which are called neurocristopathies. NCCs in vitro modeling enables the access to cellular, genetic, and biochemical information about the neural crest development and its derivatives.

Neuroprogenitor Cells From Patients With TBCK Encephalopathy Suggest Deregulation of Early Secretory Vesicle Transport.

Biallelic pathogenic variants in TBCK cause encephaloneuropathy, infantile hypotonia with psychomotor retardation, and characteristic facies 3 (IHPRF3). The molecular mechanisms underlying its neuronal phenotype are largely unexplored. In this study, we reported two sisters, who harbored biallelic variants in TBCK and met diagnostic criteria for IHPRF3.

A Novel Saliva RT-LAMP Workflow for Rapid Identification of COVID-19 Cases and Restraining Viral Spread.

Rapid diagnostics is pivotal to curb SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and saliva has emerged as a practical alternative to naso/oropharyngeal (NOP) specimens. We aimed to develop a direct RT-LAMP (reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification) workflow for viral detection in saliva, and to provide more information regarding its potential in curbing COVID-19 transmission. Clinical and contrived specimens were used to optimize formulations and sample processing protocols.

Novel USP9X variant associated with syndromic intellectual disability in a female: A case study and review.

Heterozygous variants in USP9X are associated with female-restricted X-linked mental retardation (MRXS99F), a rare syndrome characterized by neurodevelopmental delay, intellectual disability (ID), and a wide variety of additional congenital anomalies. Here, we report a girl harboring a novel de novo loss-of-function variant in USP9X (c.4091delinsAG, p.

Recapitulation of Neural Crest Specification and EMT via Induction from Neural Plate Border-like Cells.

Neural crest cells (NCCs) contribute to several tissues during embryonic development. NCC formation depends on activation of tightly regulated molecular programs at the neural plate border (NPB) region, which initiate NCC specification and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Although several approaches to investigate NCCs have been devised, these early events of NCC formation remain largely unknown in humans, and currently available cellular models have not investigated EMT.

Publisher Correction: Discordant congenital Zika syndrome twins show differential in vitro viral susceptibility of neural progenitor cells.

The original PDF version of this Article contained errors in the spelling of Luiz Carlos Caires-Júnior, Uirá Souto Melo, Bruno Henrique Silva Araujo, Alessandra Soares-Schanoski, Murilo Sena Amaral, Kayque Alves Telles-Silva, Vanessa van der Linden, Helio van der Linden, João Ricardo Mendes de Oliveira, Nivia Maria Rodrigues Arrais, Joanna Goes Castro Meira, Ana Jovina Barreto Bispo, Esper Abrão Cavalheiro, and Robert Andreata-Santos, which were incorrectly given as Luiz Carlos de Caires Jr., UiráSouto Melo, Bruno Silva Henrique Araujo, Alessandra Soares Schanoski, MuriloSena Amaral, Kayque Telles Alves Silva, Vanessa Van der Linden, Helio Van der Linden, João Mendes Ricardo de Oliveira, Nivia Rodrigues Maria Arrais, Joanna Castro Goes Meira, Ana JovinaBarreto Bispo, EsperAbrão Cavalheiro, and Robert Andreata Santos. Furthermore, in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article, the top panel of Fig.

Discordant congenital Zika syndrome twins show differential in vitro viral susceptibility of neural progenitor cells.

Congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) causes early brain development impairment by affecting neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Here, we analyze NPCs from three pairs of dizygotic twins discordant for CZS. We compare by RNA-Seq the NPCs derived from CZS-affected and CZS-unaffected twins.

CD105 is regulated by hsa-miR-1287 and its expression is inversely correlated with osteopotential in SHED.

A more accurate understanding of the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways underpinning human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) plasticity and differentiation properties is pivotal for accomplishing solid and diligent translation of MSC-based experimental therapeutics and clinical trials to broad clinical practice. In addition, this knowledge enables selection of MSC subpopulations with increased differentiation potential and/or use of exogenous factors to boost this potential. Here, we report that CD105 (ENG) is a predictive biomarker of osteogenic potential in two types of MSCs: stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) and human adipose-derived stem cells (hASC).

Rare Variants in the Epithelial Cadherin Gene Underlying the Genetic Etiology of Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip with or without Cleft Palate.

Nonsyndromic orofacial cleft (NSOFC) is a complex disease of still unclear genetic etiology. To investigate the contribution of rare epithelial cadherin (CDH1) gene variants to NSOFC, we target sequenced 221 probands. Candidate variants were evaluated via in vitro, in silico, or segregation analyses.

Increased In Vitro Osteopotential in SHED Associated with Higher IGF2 Expression When Compared with hASCs.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) osteogenic differentiation potential varies according to factors such as tissue source and cell population heterogeneity. Pre-selection of cell subpopulations harboring higher osteopotential is a promising strategy to achieve a thorough translation of MSC-based therapies to the clinic. Here, we searched for novel molecular markers predictive of osteopotential by comparing MSC populations from two sources harboring different osteogenic potentials.

Improvement of In Vitro Osteogenic Potential through Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Dental Tissue towards Mesenchymal-Like Stem Cells.

Constraints for the application of MSCs for bone reconstruction include restricted self-renewal and limited cell amounts. iPSC technology presents advantages over MSCs, providing homogeneous cellular populations with prolonged self-renewal and higher plasticity. However, it is unknown if the osteogenic potential of iPSCs differs from that of MSCs and if it depends on the iPSCs originating cellular source.

Susceptibility to DNA damage as a molecular mechanism for non-syndromic cleft lip and palate.

Non-syndromic cleft lip/palate (NSCL/P) is a complex, frequent congenital malformation, determined by the interplay between genetic and environmental factors during embryonic development. Previous findings have appointed an aetiological overlap between NSCL/P and cancer, and alterations in similar biological pathways may underpin both conditions. Here, using a combination of transcriptomic profiling and functional approaches, we report that NSCL/P dental pulp stem cells exhibit dysregulation of a co-expressed gene network mainly associated with DNA double-strand break repair and cell cycle control (p = 2.

Genetics and management of the patient with orofacial cleft.

Cleft lip or palate (CL/P) is a common facial defect present in 1 : 700 live births and results in substantial burden to patients. There are more than 500 CL/P syndromes described, the causes of which may be single-gene mutations, chromosomopathies, and exposure to teratogens. Part of the most prevalent syndromic CL/P has known etiology.

Human stem cell cultures from cleft lip/palate patients show enrichment of transcripts involved in extracellular matrix modeling by comparison to controls.

Nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate (NSCL/P) is a complex disease resulting from failure of fusion of facial primordia, a complex developmental process that includes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Detection of differential gene transcription between NSCL/P patients and control individuals offers an interesting alternative for investigating pathways involved in disease manifestation. Here we compared the transcriptome of 6 dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) cultures from NSCL/P patients and 6 controls.

Alveolar osseous defect in rat for cell therapy: preliminary report.

Purpose: To study were to reproduce an alveolar bone defect model in Wistar rats to be used for testing the efficacy of stem cell therapies. Additionally, we also aimed to determine the osteogenesis process of this osseous defect in the 1 month period post-surgery.

Methods: The animals were randomly divided into two groups of 7 animals each.

An experimental model for the study of craniofacial deformities.

Purpose: To develop an experimental surgical model in rats for the study of craniofacial abnormalities.

Methods: Full thickness calvarial defects with 10x10-mm and 5x8-mm dimensions were created in 40 male NIS Wistar rats, body weight ranging from 320 to 420 g. The animals were equally divided into two groups.

New source of muscle-derived stem cells with potential for alveolar bone reconstruction in cleft lip and/or palate patients.

Cleft lip and palate (CLP), one of the most frequent congenital malformations, affects the alveolar bone in the great majority of the cases, and the reconstruction of this defect still represents a challenge in the rehabilitation of these patients. One of the current most promising strategy to achieve this goal is the use of bone marrow stem cells (BMSC); however, isolation of BMSC or iliac bone, which is still the mostly used graft in the surgical repair of these patients, confers site morbidity to the donor. Therefore, in order to identify a new alternative source of stem cells with osteogenic potential without conferring morbidity to the donor, we have used orbicular oris muscle (OOM) fragments, which are regularly discarded during surgery repair (cheiloplasty) of CLP patients.