Meta-Analysis of Genes Associated with Craniofacial Microsomia (CFM)

Main Article Content

Muhammad Haris Baig

Abstract

Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is a complex congenital anomaly primarily involving malformations of structures derived from the first and second pharyngeal arches. Increasing evidence suggests that both genetic predispositions and environmental factors contribute to its pathogenesis. This meta-analysis synthesizes current genetic research on CFM to identify key loci and candidate genes implicated in its development, with a particular focus on those regulating neural crest cell (NCC) migration and differentiation, processes essential for normal craniofacial morphogenesis. The analysis incorporates data from multiple population-based studies and highlights eight major and five additional implicated genetic loci associated with CFM, underscoring considerable genetic heterogeneity across ethnic and demographic groups. In addition to core genetic determinants, the review explores the role of modifier genes and gene–environment interactions in shaping phenotypic variability and disease progression. Methodological challenges inherent to genetic meta-analyses, including statistical heterogeneity, incomplete datasets, and model selection are critically evaluated to ensure the robustness of conclusions. The study further addresses ongoing debates regarding the clinical translation of genetic findings, emphasizing the need for rigorous analytical frameworks to mitigate bias and enhance reproducibility. By consolidating and interpreting available genomic data, this meta-analysis contributes to the evolving understanding of CFM and supports the development of improved diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies for affected individuals.

Article Details

How to Cite
Baig, M. H. (2025). Meta-Analysis of Genes Associated with Craniofacial Microsomia (CFM). African Journal of Medicine, Surgery and Public Health Research, 2(2), 366-374. https://doi.org/10.58578/ajmsphr.v2i2.6067

References

1. Rao, S. S. P., Huntley, M. H., Durand, N. C., Stamenova, E. K., Bochkov, I. D., Robinson, J. T., Sanborn, A. L., Machol, I., Omer, A. D., Lander, E. S., & Aiden, E. L. (2014). A 3D map of the human genome at kilobase resolution reveals principles of chromatin looping. Nature Communications, 6, Article 814. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms10605
2. Rao, S. S. P., Huntley, M. H., Durand, N. C., Stamenova, E. K., Bochkov, I. D., Robinson, J. T., Sanborn, A. L., Machol, I., Omer, A. D., Lander, E. S., & Aiden, E. L. (2014). A 3D map of the human genome at kilobase resolution reveals principles of chromatin looping. Nature Communications, 6, Article 814. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4748111/
3. Kalantari, R., Chiang, C. M., & Corey, D. R. (2024). Targeting enhancer RNA transcription with antigene oligonucleotides. PLOS Genetics, 20(4), e1011483. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1011483
4. Ahmad, I., Khan, S., Sherin, L., & Afsar, M. (2024). Genetic mutation and recent advancement in cystic fibrosis: A comprehensive review. Journal of Healthcare Engineering, 2024, Article 6165547. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/6165547
5. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. (n.d.). Find out more about your mutations. https://www.cff.org/intro-cf/find-out-more-about-your-mutations
6. Sosnay, P. R., White, T. B., Farrell, P. M., Ren, C. L., Derichs, N., Howenstine, M. S., & McColley, S. A. (2017). Diagnosing cystic fibrosis in nonscreened populations. BMC Medical Genetics, 18, Article 32. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12881-017-0420-9
7. Healio. (2024, July 8). Q&A: Finding a treatment for rare cystic fibrosis splicing mutation. https://www.healio.com/news/pulmonology/20240708/qa-finding-a-treatment-for-rare-cystic-fibrosis-splicing-mutation
8. Dhamne, S. C., Silverman, R. B., Super, C. E., & Hensch, T. K. (2019). GABAA receptor potentiation: Developmental influence on network activity and synchrony in immature cortex. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 13, Article 633. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.00633
9. Ning, K., Yang, M., Wang, Y., Li, D., Lu, D., Wang, J., & Song, J. (2022). Exploring the genetic correlation between obesity-related traits and regional brain volumes in a large population-based cohort. Frontiers in Genetics, 13, Article 983043. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.983043
10. Higgins, J. P. T., Thomas, J., Chandler, J., Cumpston, M., Li, T., Page, M. J., & Welch, V. A. (Eds.). (2023). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Version 6.4, Chapter 10). Cochrane. https://training.cochrane.org/handbook/current/chapter-10
11. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2011, April 27). CFTR gene mutation detection systems—Class II special controls guidance for industry and FDA staff. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/guidance-documents-medical-devices-and-radiation-emitting-products/cftr-gene-mutation-detection-systems-class-ii-special-controls-guidance-industry-and-fda-staff
12. Liu, X., Wu, S., Yang, Y., Zhao, M., Zhu, G., Hou, Z., Lin, J., & Ding, Y. (2020). The prognostic landscape of tumor-infiltrating immune cells in colorectal cancer. Frontiers in Oncology, 10, Article 68. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2020.00068
13. Liu, Y., Hayes, D. N., Nobel, A., Marron, J. S., & Li, H. (2016). Statistical significance of clustering for high-dimension, low–sample size data. BMC Bioinformatics, 17, Article 352. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12859-016-1038-1

14. Nussbaum, J. C., Van Dyken, S. J., von Moltke, J., Cheng, L. E., Mohapatra, A., Molofsky, A. B., Thornton, E. E., Krummel, M. F., Chawla, A., Liang, H. E., & Locksley, R. M. (2018). Type 2 innate lymphoid cells control eosinophil homeostasis. PLOS Genetics, 14(1), e1007586. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1007586
15. Zhang, Y., Li, X., Grailer, J. J., Wang, N., Wang, M., Yao, J., Zhong, R., & Gao, G. F. (2017). Melatonin alleviates acute lung injury through inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome. Frontiers in Immunology, 8, Article 74. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00074

Explore Our Journals
Find the most suitable journal for your research. If this journal does not fully align with the scope of your manuscript, we invite you to explore our wider portfolio of journals covering diverse fields of study. Please select one of the journals below to identify the most appropriate publication platform for your work.