In vivo impact of Dlx3 conditional inactivation in neural crest-derived craniofacial bones.

ABSTRACT: Mutations in DLX3 in humans lead to defects in craniofacial and appendicular bones, yet the in vivo activities related to Dlx3 function during normal skeletal development have not been fully elucidated. Here we used a conditional knockout approach to analyze the effects of neural crest deletion of Dlx3 on craniofacial bones development. At birth, mutant mice exhibit a normal overall positioning of the skull bones, but a change in the shape of the calvaria was observed. Molecular analysis of the genes affected in the frontal bones and mandibles from these mice identified several bone markers known to affect bone development, with a strong prediction for increased bone formation and mineralization in vivo. Interestingly, while a subset of these genes were similarly affected in frontal bones

SUBMITTER: Duverger O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3514657 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature