舌的发育及其调控机制

Regulation Mechanisms of Tongue Development

舌是参与咀嚼、吸允、吞咽、发音等功能的重要器官。舌发育异常会导致无舌、小舌、舌裂、结舌、巨舌症、腭裂等严重的先天舌发育缺陷疾病。发育完全的舌由肌肉组织、结缔组织、黏膜组织及血管组成。调控舌发育的基因有Pax3/Pax7、Dlx基因家族、TGF-β家族和FGF等,同时还受Shh与Wnt等信号通路调控。舌发育分子调控机制的研究对相关舌发育畸形疾病的诊断与治疗有重要意义。

Tongue is an important organ involved in chewing, swallowing, pronunciation. Abnormal tongue development will lead to aglossia, microglossia, bifid tongue, ankyloglossia, macroglossia and cleft palate. The normal tongue is composed of muscle, connective tissue, mucosal tissue and blood vessels. Paired box gene Pax3 and Pax7, Dlx genes, TGF-β and FGF genes have been proved to be critical for tongue development. Shh and Wnt signaling pathways are also involved in the regulation of tongue development. The study of molecular mechanism will contribute greatly to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of tongue development.