About this Research Topic
Ectodermal organs and their supportive tissues are essential for physiological functions such as feeding, maintenance of normal body temperature and homeostasis of microenvironments. Development of these organs is extensively studied and forms the basis of ectodermal organ regenerative strategies. Despite the morphological diversity of teeth, hairs and exocrine glands such as salivary glands, early development of these organs displays a number of common features, whether one considers their embryonic origin, early morphogenesis or signaling factors and molecular pathways regulating the early steps of their development. Hence, all ectodermal organs are considered in this Research Topic, as well as their surrounding tissues, as these organs do not develop in isolation. Throughout development and homeostasis there is a constant crosstalk between ectodermal organs and their close environment, which helps build and maintain these organs, and provide support during repair.
Knowledge from this area can help our understanding of the underlying mechanisms that lead to congenital defects, such as found in Ectodermal Dysplasias, or lead to disease and pathologies in later life and provide novel methods to aid prevention and treatment.
This Research Topic stems from the 2019 Tooth Morphogenesis and Development (TMD) Meeting held in Oxford, UK. This international conference offers a unique platform to share knowledge, special skills, personal views and ideas to help promote progress and innovation in craniofacial research. It attracts a diversity of scientists such as high-profile paleontologists, developmental biologists and clinicians, who work at the forefront of various fields of research including morphogenesis and patterning, late differentiation, stem cell biology, regeneration and repair, disease models and evolution. This Research Topic aims to offer a platform for TMD 2019 attendees and the wider scientific community to share the science presented at the meeting with an extended audience as well as a wide spectrum of recent discoveries in diverse model organisms and distinct fields of research, ranging from predictive computer-based models to molecular genetics and organoid research, to understand the development, maintenance and evolution of ectodermal organs and their associated tissues. This Research Topic prolongs and expands the interactions and discussions initiated during the meeting, acts as a snapshot of the current research that contributes to the advancement of diagnosis, maintenance of homeostasis, and repair/ regeneration of craniofacial tissues. It is essentially a hub for new ideas and advances in clinical practice.
Themes of the Research Topic will include:
- Development and homeostasis of ectodermal organs and supporting tissues
- Evolution of ectodermal organs and supporting tissues
- Disease models for ectodermal organs and supporting tissues
- Stem cells in ectodermal organs and supporting tissues
- Regeneration and repair of ectodermal organs and supporting tissues
Knowledge from this area can help our understanding of the underlying mechanisms that lead to congenital defects, such as found in Ectodermal Dysplasias, or lead to disease and pathologies in later life and provide novel methods to aid prevention and treatment.
This Research Topic stems from the 2019 Tooth Morphogenesis and Development (TMD) Meeting held in Oxford, UK. This international conference offers a unique platform to share knowledge, special skills, personal views and ideas to help promote progress and innovation in craniofacial research. It attracts a diversity of scientists such as high-profile paleontologists, developmental biologists and clinicians, who work at the forefront of various fields of research including morphogenesis and patterning, late differentiation, stem cell biology, regeneration and repair, disease models and evolution. This Research Topic aims to offer a platform for TMD 2019 attendees and the wider scientific community to share the science presented at the meeting with an extended audience as well as a wide spectrum of recent discoveries in diverse model organisms and distinct fields of research, ranging from predictive computer-based models to molecular genetics and organoid research, to understand the development, maintenance and evolution of ectodermal organs and their associated tissues. This Research Topic prolongs and expands the interactions and discussions initiated during the meeting, acts as a snapshot of the current research that contributes to the advancement of diagnosis, maintenance of homeostasis, and repair/ regeneration of craniofacial tissues. It is essentially a hub for new ideas and advances in clinical practice.
Themes of the Research Topic will include:
- Development and homeostasis of ectodermal organs and supporting tissues
- Evolution of ectodermal organs and supporting tissues
- Disease models for ectodermal organs and supporting tissues
- Stem cells in ectodermal organs and supporting tissues
- Regeneration and repair of ectodermal organs and supporting tissues
Keywords: Ectodermal Organs, Tooth development, Evolution, Stem Cells, Regenerative dentistry
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
