Yamila López-Gordillo1, Estela Maldonado1, Laura Nogales1, Aurora Del Río2, M Carmen Barrio2, Jorge Murillo2, Elena Martínez-Sanz2, Irene Paradas-Lara1, M Isabel Alonso3, Teresa Partearroyo4, Concepción Martínez-Álvarez5. 1. Laboratorio de Desarrollo y Crecimiento Craneofacial, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. 2. Departamento de Anatomía y Embriología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. 3. Departamento de Anatomía y Radiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain. 4. Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y de la Alimentación, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain. 5. Departamento de Anatomía y Embriología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. cmartinez@med.ucm.es.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cleft palate (CP) constitutes the most frequently seen orofacial cleft and is often associated with low folate status. Folate plays an essential role in the human body as a major coenzyme in one-carbon metabolism, including DNA synthesis, repair, and methylation. Whether the administration of isolated folic acid (FA) supplements prevents the CP caused by genetic mutations is unknown, as is its effect on the mechanisms leading to palate fusion. METHODS: FA was administered to females from two different strains of transforming growth factor β3 heterozygous mice. Null mutant progeny of these mice exhibit CP in 100% of cases of varying severity. We measured cleft length, height of palatal shelf adhesion, and the number of proliferating mesenchymal cells. Immunohistochemistry was also carried for collagen IV, laminin, fibronectin, cytokeratin-17, and EGF. RESULTS: FA supplementation significantly reduced CP severity and improved palatal shelf adhesion in both strains both in vivo and in vitro. Medial edge epithelium proliferation increased, and its differentiation was normalized as indicated by the presence and disposition of collagen IV, laminin, fibronectin, and cytokeratin-17. CONCLUSIONS: A maternal FA supplementation reduces the CP appearance by improving the mechanisms leading to palatal shelf adhesion.
BACKGROUND: Cleft palate (CP) constitutes the most frequently seen orofacial cleft and is often associated with low folate status. Folate plays an essential role in the human body as a major coenzyme in one-carbon metabolism, including DNA synthesis, repair, and methylation. Whether the administration of isolated folic acid (FA) supplements prevents the CP caused by genetic mutations is unknown, as is its effect on the mechanisms leading to palate fusion. METHODS: FA was administered to females from two different strains of transforming growth factor β3 heterozygous mice. Null mutant progeny of these mice exhibit CP in 100% of cases of varying severity. We measured cleft length, height of palatal shelf adhesion, and the number of proliferating mesenchymal cells. Immunohistochemistry was also carried for collagen IV, laminin, fibronectin, cytokeratin-17, and EGF. RESULTS: FA supplementation significantly reduced CP severity and improved palatal shelf adhesion in both strains both in vivo and in vitro. Medial edge epithelium proliferation increased, and its differentiation was normalized as indicated by the presence and disposition of collagen IV, laminin, fibronectin, and cytokeratin-17. CONCLUSIONS: A maternal FA supplementation reduces the CP appearance by improving the mechanisms leading to palatal shelf adhesion.
Authors: Consuelo Tudela; Miguel-Angel Formoso; Tamara Martínez; Raquel Pérez; Marta Aparicio; Carmen Maestro; Aurora Del Río; Elena Martínez; Mark Ferguson; Concepción Martínez-Alvarez Journal: Int J Dev Biol Date: 2002-05 Impact factor: 2.203