Perspectives on Growth Factors and Orofacial Development

Despite the fact that orofacial clefts represent one of the most common birth defects, the molecular mechanisms by which the embryonic primordia of the midface grow and differentiate are not completely understood. A multiplicity of genes must be expressed and their protein products must interact in a highly orchestrated fashion to affect normal orofacial development. Several families of growth factors have emerged as key contributors to the choreography of cellular and tissue interactions contributing to morphogenesis of the orofacial region. This overview focuses on those growth factors that are generally accepted as playing a pivotal role in normal as well as abnormal development of first branchial arch-derived structures. Particular emphasis is given transforming growth factor-ß (TGFß) and TGFα family members, as these have been the most extensively investigated with regard to their role in development of orofacial structures. Consideration is also given to evidence implicating developmental contributions from members of the bone morphogenetic protein and fibroblast growth factor families.