Objective To explore the role of cysteine aspartic protease-8(Caspase-8)/gasdermin E(GSDME)pathway in the regulation of macrophage pyroptosis in myocardial infarction(MI)rat model and its possible mechanism.Methods Thirty rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,MI group and Caspase-8 inhibition(Z-IETD-FMK)group,with 10 rats in each group.The cultured rat macrophages RMa-bm were divided into control group,hypoxia group and Z-IETD-FMK group.The pathological changes of myocardial tissue were detected by H&E staining.Masson staining was used to detect myocardial fibrosis.The protein and mRNA levels of Caspase-8 and GSDME in myocardial tissue and Caspase-8,GSDME,NLR family Pyrin domain protein 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-related speck-like protein(ASC)and Caspase-1 in macrophages were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blotting.The levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in macrophages were detected by ELISA.TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and macrophages.Results Compared with the sham operation group,myocardial tissue of rats in MI group was broken and disturbed,inflammatory cell infiltration,a large amount of collagen fiber deposition in the gap,cell apoptosis increased and the expression of Caspase-8,GSDME protein and mRNA in myocardial tissue increased,the differences were statistically significant(t=16.19,27.60;21.18,23.73,all P<0.05).Compared with MI group,Z-IETD-FMK group improved myocardial structural damage,reduced inflammatory cells and collagen deposition,cell apoptosis decreased and decreased Caspase-8,GSDME protein and mRNA expressions in myocardial tissue,with statistical significance(t=20.34,14.56;11.97,24.46,all P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the apoptosis of macrophages in hypoxia group was increased,and the protein and mRNA expressions of Caspase-8,GSDME,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1 in macrophages were increased(tprotein=17.53～120.90,tmRNA=18.42～60.30),the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in macrophages were increased(t=25.88,45.74),and the differences were staistically significant(all P<0.05).Compared with the hypoxia group,the apoptosis of macrophages in Z-IETD-FMK group was decreased,and the protein and mRNA expressions of Caspase-8,GSDME,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1 in macrophages were decreased(tprotein=17.08～35.08,tmRNA=11.21～47.96),IL-1β and IL-18 content decreased(t=27.38,25.82),and the differences were staistically significant(all P<0.05),respectively.Conclusion Down-regulating Caspase-8/GSDME pathway can improve myocardial injury and hypoxic macrophage scorch death in MI rats.

Objective To investigate the effects of miR-126 on myocardial remodeling and macrophage polarization after acute myocardial infarction(AMI).Methods(1)Twenty-one rats were divided into a sham operation group and an AMI group.The AMI group was further divided into postoperative days 1,3,5,7,9,and 11 days(AMI-1,AMI-3,AMI-5,AMI-7,AMI-9,AMI-11),with 3 rats in each group,and postoperative day 3 was selected for subsequent study.(2)Thirty rats were randomly divided into three groups:sham operation group,AMI group and miR-126 overexpression group,with 10 rats in each group.RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-126 mRNA.2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazole chloride(TTC)staining was used to detect the infarct size.Myocardial fibrosis was detected by Masson staining.The cross-sectional area of the myocardium was determined by H&E staining.Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the protein levels of CD86 and CD206 in myocardial tissue.Western blotting was used to detect the protein levels of CD86 and CD206 in myocardial tissue.The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and IL-6 in serum were detected by ELISA kit.Results Compared with the sham operation group,the expression level of miR-126 mRNA in myocardial tissue of rats in the AMI group was significantly decreased on postoperative day 1(P<0.05),reached the lowest level on postoperative day 3.And then although it rose to a certain extent,it remained lower than that of the sham operation group on postoperative day 11(P<0.05),and postoperative day 3 was selected for further study.Compared with the sham operation group,the expression of miR-126 mRNA in myocardial tissue of the AMI group was decreased(P<0.05),and the myocardial fibrosis,infarct size and myocardial cross-sectional area were increased(P<0.05).The expression of CD86 protein in myocardial tissue was increased and the expression of CD206 protein was decreased(P<0.05).The serum levels of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β were increased(P<0.05).Compared with the AMI group,the rats in the miR-126 overexpression group had a significant increase in the mRNA expression of miR-126 in myocardial tissue(P<0.05),a significant reduction in myocardial fibrosis,infarct size,and myocardial cross-sectional area(P<0.05),a significant reduction in the expression of CD86 protein in myocardial tissue,and a significant increase in the expression of CD206 protein(P<0.05).The serum levels of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β were significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion Over-expression of miR-126 can improve myocardial remodeling and promote M2 macrophage polarization in AMI rats.

Background and Aims:Abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA)is a common arterial dilation disease in vascular surgery,with aneurysm rupture being its most serious complication,often leading to fatal hemorrhage and posing a severe threat to patients'lives.Endovascular aneurysm repair(EVAR),due to its minimally invasive nature,safety,and rapid recovery,has become the preferred treatment for AAA.However,endoleak,a complication unique to EVAR,remains a major clinical challenge.Persistent endoleak can lead to sustained high pressure within the aneurysm sac,increasing the risk of continued expansion and rupture.It is one of the main causes of the high reintervention rate following EVAR.In particular,the treatment strategy for type Ⅱ endoleaks remains controversial.This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical value of selective sac embolization via the iliac approach combined with standard EVAR in managing intraoperative immediate endoleaks.Methods:The clinical data of AAA patients with a risk of endoleak who underwent standard EVAR at the First Hospital of China Medical University between March 2023 and September 2024 were retrospectively collected.Patients were divided into an intervention group(n=42)and a non-intervention group(n=32)based on whether selective sac embolization via the iliac approach was performed during operation.General clinical data,preoperative anatomical characteristics of the AAA,surgical details,and postoperative follow-up results were compared between the two groups.Results:There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of age,sex,anatomical features,rupture rate,or off-label use(all P>0.05).The technical success rate during surgery was 100%in both groups.One patient in the intervention group experienced transient sigmoid colon ischemia after operation,which resolved with conservative treatment.The mean follow-up period was(6.49±4.68)months.The proportions of aneurysm sac shrinkage,stability,and enlargement in the intervention group were 40.5%,57.1%,and 2.4%,respectively,compared to 59.4%,40.6%,and 0.0%in the non-intervention group,with no statistically significant differences(all P>0.05).The incidence of endoleak during follow-up was also comparable between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:For intraoperative endoleaks during standard EVAR,selective sac embolization via the iliac approach is a technically simple and safe method that provides short-term outcomes comparable to those in patients without intraoperative endoleaks.Its long-term efficacy warrants further investigation through extended follow-up.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nebulized inhalation of recombinant human interferon (IFN) α1b injection in the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) associated lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia and bronchiolitis) in children.Methods:A randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled add-on design was used.Children with pneumonia or bronchiolitis aged 2 months to 5 years who tested positive for RSV antigen within 72 hours of onset from 30 clinical trial sites including Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University between February 2021 and December 2022 were included in this study and randomly divided into 2 groups at a ratio of 1∶1 based on a stratified-block method.Both groups received basic treatments such as cough control, asthma relieving, expectorant treatment, fever reduction, oxygen therapy, etc.The experimental group received additional nebulized inhalation of IFN α1b injection at a dose of 2.0 μg/(kg·time), twice a day.The control group received nebulized inhalation of placebo twice a day.Clinical efficacy was evaluated based on indicators such as the duration of clinical symptoms and signs, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the median and 95% CI of the duration of clinical symptoms and signs.The Log-rank test was used to compared data between groups.Safety was assessed through the incidence of adverse reactions and laboratory tests, and the Chi-square test was used to analyze the difference between groups. Results:There were 123 children in the experimental group and 122 children in the control group.The median durations of all the 5 clinical symptoms and signs [including shortness of breath, wheezing, dyspnea (visible retractions), decreased transcutaneous oxygen saturation, and abnormal mental state] in the experimental group after treatment were slightly shortened than those in the control group [2.7 d(95% CI: 1.9-3.0 d)] vs.[2.9 d(95% CI: 2.6-3.6 d), P=0.027].The improvement in dyspnea (retractions) was especially pronounced in the experimental group, with a relief rate of 50.0% (0, 100%) on the first day of administration[compared with 0 (0, 50.0%) in the control group ( Z=2.002, P=0.025)].The median duration of dyspnea in the experimental group was nearly 1 day shorter than that in the control group [1.0 d(95% CI: 0.7-1.7 d) vs.1.8 d(95% CI: 1.0-2.5 d), P=0.046].There were no significant difference in hospital stay [6.0(5.0, 8.0) d vs.6.5(5.0, 8.0) d, Z=0.675, P=0.500], oxygen therapy duration [32.0(14.0, 96.3) h vs.39.0 (24.0, 83.2) h, Z=0.094, P=0.925], the recovery rate from clinical symptoms during treatment [(105/106, 99.1%) vs.(96/101, 95.0%)], and recurrence rate [(0/106, 0) vs.(2/101, 2.0%)] between the 2 groups (all P>0.05).However, the above-mentioned four indicators in the experimental group showed a trend of clinical benefits.The quantitative virus detection results showed that the RSV viral load in both groups decreased after treatment compared to before treatment.After 2 days of treatment, the decline rate of RSV viral load from the baseline was 0.90 lg copies/(mL·d) in the experimental group and 0.25 lg copies/(mL·d)in the control group, with a statistically significant difference ( P<0.05).Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the 2 groups ( P>0.05).Importantly, no drug-related serious adverse reactions occurred in both groups. Conclusions:The nebulized inhalation therapy of IFN α1b demonstrates efficacy and safety in treating pediatric RSV associated lower respiratory tract infections.It particularly offers outstanding clinical therapeutic value for severe children.

Objective To explore the role of cysteine aspartic protease-8(Caspase-8)/gasdermin E(GSDME)pathway in the regulation of macrophage pyroptosis in myocardial infarction(MI)rat model and its possible mechanism.Methods Thirty rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,MI group and Caspase-8 inhibition(Z-IETD-FMK)group,with 10 rats in each group.The cultured rat macrophages RMa-bm were divided into control group,hypoxia group and Z-IETD-FMK group.The pathological changes of myocardial tissue were detected by H&E staining.Masson staining was used to detect myocardial fibrosis.The protein and mRNA levels of Caspase-8 and GSDME in myocardial tissue and Caspase-8,GSDME,NLR family Pyrin domain protein 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-related speck-like protein(ASC)and Caspase-1 in macrophages were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blotting.The levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in macrophages were detected by ELISA.TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and macrophages.Results Compared with the sham operation group,myocardial tissue of rats in MI group was broken and disturbed,inflammatory cell infiltration,a large amount of collagen fiber deposition in the gap,cell apoptosis increased and the expression of Caspase-8,GSDME protein and mRNA in myocardial tissue increased,the differences were statistically significant(t=16.19,27.60;21.18,23.73,all P<0.05).Compared with MI group,Z-IETD-FMK group improved myocardial structural damage,reduced inflammatory cells and collagen deposition,cell apoptosis decreased and decreased Caspase-8,GSDME protein and mRNA expressions in myocardial tissue,with statistical significance(t=20.34,14.56;11.97,24.46,all P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the apoptosis of macrophages in hypoxia group was increased,and the protein and mRNA expressions of Caspase-8,GSDME,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1 in macrophages were increased(tprotein=17.53～120.90,tmRNA=18.42～60.30),the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in macrophages were increased(t=25.88,45.74),and the differences were staistically significant(all P<0.05).Compared with the hypoxia group,the apoptosis of macrophages in Z-IETD-FMK group was decreased,and the protein and mRNA expressions of Caspase-8,GSDME,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1 in macrophages were decreased(tprotein=17.08～35.08,tmRNA=11.21～47.96),IL-1β and IL-18 content decreased(t=27.38,25.82),and the differences were staistically significant(all P<0.05),respectively.Conclusion Down-regulating Caspase-8/GSDME pathway can improve myocardial injury and hypoxic macrophage scorch death in MI rats.

Background and Aims:Abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA)is a common arterial dilation disease in vascular surgery,with aneurysm rupture being its most serious complication,often leading to fatal hemorrhage and posing a severe threat to patients'lives.Endovascular aneurysm repair(EVAR),due to its minimally invasive nature,safety,and rapid recovery,has become the preferred treatment for AAA.However,endoleak,a complication unique to EVAR,remains a major clinical challenge.Persistent endoleak can lead to sustained high pressure within the aneurysm sac,increasing the risk of continued expansion and rupture.It is one of the main causes of the high reintervention rate following EVAR.In particular,the treatment strategy for type Ⅱ endoleaks remains controversial.This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical value of selective sac embolization via the iliac approach combined with standard EVAR in managing intraoperative immediate endoleaks.Methods:The clinical data of AAA patients with a risk of endoleak who underwent standard EVAR at the First Hospital of China Medical University between March 2023 and September 2024 were retrospectively collected.Patients were divided into an intervention group(n=42)and a non-intervention group(n=32)based on whether selective sac embolization via the iliac approach was performed during operation.General clinical data,preoperative anatomical characteristics of the AAA,surgical details,and postoperative follow-up results were compared between the two groups.Results:There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of age,sex,anatomical features,rupture rate,or off-label use(all P>0.05).The technical success rate during surgery was 100%in both groups.One patient in the intervention group experienced transient sigmoid colon ischemia after operation,which resolved with conservative treatment.The mean follow-up period was(6.49±4.68)months.The proportions of aneurysm sac shrinkage,stability,and enlargement in the intervention group were 40.5%,57.1%,and 2.4%,respectively,compared to 59.4%,40.6%,and 0.0%in the non-intervention group,with no statistically significant differences(all P>0.05).The incidence of endoleak during follow-up was also comparable between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:For intraoperative endoleaks during standard EVAR,selective sac embolization via the iliac approach is a technically simple and safe method that provides short-term outcomes comparable to those in patients without intraoperative endoleaks.Its long-term efficacy warrants further investigation through extended follow-up.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nebulized inhalation of recombinant human interferon (IFN) α1b injection in the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) associated lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia and bronchiolitis) in children.Methods:A randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled add-on design was used.Children with pneumonia or bronchiolitis aged 2 months to 5 years who tested positive for RSV antigen within 72 hours of onset from 30 clinical trial sites including Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University between February 2021 and December 2022 were included in this study and randomly divided into 2 groups at a ratio of 1∶1 based on a stratified-block method.Both groups received basic treatments such as cough control, asthma relieving, expectorant treatment, fever reduction, oxygen therapy, etc.The experimental group received additional nebulized inhalation of IFN α1b injection at a dose of 2.0 μg/(kg·time), twice a day.The control group received nebulized inhalation of placebo twice a day.Clinical efficacy was evaluated based on indicators such as the duration of clinical symptoms and signs, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the median and 95% CI of the duration of clinical symptoms and signs.The Log-rank test was used to compared data between groups.Safety was assessed through the incidence of adverse reactions and laboratory tests, and the Chi-square test was used to analyze the difference between groups. Results:There were 123 children in the experimental group and 122 children in the control group.The median durations of all the 5 clinical symptoms and signs [including shortness of breath, wheezing, dyspnea (visible retractions), decreased transcutaneous oxygen saturation, and abnormal mental state] in the experimental group after treatment were slightly shortened than those in the control group [2.7 d(95% CI: 1.9-3.0 d)] vs.[2.9 d(95% CI: 2.6-3.6 d), P=0.027].The improvement in dyspnea (retractions) was especially pronounced in the experimental group, with a relief rate of 50.0% (0, 100%) on the first day of administration[compared with 0 (0, 50.0%) in the control group ( Z=2.002, P=0.025)].The median duration of dyspnea in the experimental group was nearly 1 day shorter than that in the control group [1.0 d(95% CI: 0.7-1.7 d) vs.1.8 d(95% CI: 1.0-2.5 d), P=0.046].There were no significant difference in hospital stay [6.0(5.0, 8.0) d vs.6.5(5.0, 8.0) d, Z=0.675, P=0.500], oxygen therapy duration [32.0(14.0, 96.3) h vs.39.0 (24.0, 83.2) h, Z=0.094, P=0.925], the recovery rate from clinical symptoms during treatment [(105/106, 99.1%) vs.(96/101, 95.0%)], and recurrence rate [(0/106, 0) vs.(2/101, 2.0%)] between the 2 groups (all P>0.05).However, the above-mentioned four indicators in the experimental group showed a trend of clinical benefits.The quantitative virus detection results showed that the RSV viral load in both groups decreased after treatment compared to before treatment.After 2 days of treatment, the decline rate of RSV viral load from the baseline was 0.90 lg copies/(mL·d) in the experimental group and 0.25 lg copies/(mL·d)in the control group, with a statistically significant difference ( P<0.05).Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the 2 groups ( P>0.05).Importantly, no drug-related serious adverse reactions occurred in both groups. Conclusions:The nebulized inhalation therapy of IFN α1b demonstrates efficacy and safety in treating pediatric RSV associated lower respiratory tract infections.It particularly offers outstanding clinical therapeutic value for severe children.

Objective:To understand the epidemiological characteristics of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) among acute respiratory infection (ARI) cases in 16 provinces of China from 2009 to 2023.Methods:The data of this study were collected from the ARI surveillance data from 16 provinces in China from 2009 to 2023, with a total of 28 278 ARI cases included in the study. The clinical specimens from ARI cases were screened for HRSV nucleic acid from 2009 to 2023, and differences in virus detection rates among cases of different age groups, regions, and months were analyzed.Results:A total of 28 278 ARI cases were enrolled from January 2009 to September 2023. The age of the cases ranged from<1 month to 112 years, and the age M ( Q1, Q3) was 3 years (1 year, 9 years). Among them, 3 062 cases were positive for HRSV nucleic acid, with a total detection rate of 10.83%. From 2009 to 2019, the detection rate of HRSV was 9.33%, and the virus was mainly prevalent in winter and spring. During the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the detection rate of HRSV fluctuated between 6.32% and 18.67%. There was no traditional winter epidemic peak of HRSV from the end of 2022 to the beginning of 2023, and an anti-seasonal epidemic of HRSV occurred from April to May 2023. About 87.95% (2 693/3 062) of positive cases were children under 5 years old, and the difference in the detection rate of HRSV among different age groups was statistically significant ( P<0.001), showing a decreasing trend of HRSV detection rate with the increase of age ( P<0.001). Among them, the HRSV detection rate (25.69%) was highest in children under 6 months. Compared with 2009-2019, the ranking of HRSV detection rates in different age groups changed from high to low between 2020 and 2023, with the age M (Q1, Q3) of HRSV positive cases increasing from 1 year (6 months, 3 years) to 2 years (11 months, 3 years). Conclusion:Through 15 years of continuous HRSV surveillance analysis, children under 5 years old, especially infants under 6 months old, are the main high-risk population for HRSV infection. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence and patterns of HRSV in China have changed.

AIM: To evaluate the binocular visual function in high myopia patients after the implantation of implantable collamer lens(ICL)V4c.METHODS: A total of 35 cases(70 eyes)that received binocular ICL implantation at our hospital from May 2019 to May 2021 were enrolled in this prospective study. Binocular full-range visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, stereopsis, mesopic vision and glare sensitivity, and monocular wavefront and the quality of vision questionnaire were assessed before the surgery and at 1 mo postoperatively.RESULTS: At 1 mo postoperatively, 35 cases(100%)had binocular uncorrected distance visual acuity(UDVA)≤0.00(LogMAR), 16 cases(46%)had binocular UDVA≥preoperative corrected distance visual acuity(CDVA). Binocular UDVA and uncorrected intermediate visual acuity(UIVA,80 cm)were improved compared to preoperative CDVA and distance-corrected intermediate visual acuity(DCIVA,80 cm)(all P<0.05).While there were no differences in the binocular postoperative UIVA(60 cm)and preoperative DCIVA(60 cm),and uncorrected near visual acuity(UNVA,40 cm)and preoperative distance-corrected near visual acuity(DCNVA,40 cm)(all P>0.05). The binocular contrast sensitivity was significantly improved postoperatively(P=0.001), and the postoperative binocular mesopic vision, glare sensitivity(no glare/glare)and binocular stereopsis(5 m/40 cm)had no differences(all P>0.05). The postoperative total higher-order aberration, trefoil aberration, coma and spherical aberration were increased, besides the median of total coma in the right eye with a pupil diameter of 3.0 mm was decreased after surgery. The mean total score of quality of vision questionnaire was significantly increased from 54.87 preoperatively to 80.92 after implantation(P<0.05), with high satisfaction and no obvious visual disturbance in patients.CONCLUSION: Although the monocular high-order aberrations increased in the early stage after ICL V4c binocular implantation in patients with high myopia, the binocular visual function was improved.

Objective:Explore the expression pattern of transcription factor activator protein 2C (TFAP2C) and identify the roles of Tfap2c during tooth development.Methods:Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to analyze the relative expression level of Tfap2c in various organs of embryonic day(E)14.5 mouse embryos and mouse molar germs at E12.5-E18.5 and postnatal day (P)0-P7. The expression position of Tfap2c in mouse molar germs was demonstrated by frozen section immunofluorescence staining. Cultured mandibular molar germs were transfected with control small interfering RNA (siRNA) or Tfap2c siRNA to evaluate the effect of Tfap2c on tooth molar germs development, and RT-qPCR was used to detect the relative expression level of genes related to odontoblast expression. Dental mesenchymal cells were isolated from E14.5 molar germs and transfected with control siRNA or Tfap2c siRNA, cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) and scratch healing test were applied to detect dental mesenchymal cell viability and migration.Results:Tfap2c was highly expressed in the early development period of mouse molar germs. Tfap2c was expressed in the epithelial and mesenchymal tissues of E13.5 mouse molar germs and there was no significant difference of relative expression of Tfap2c between them ( t=1.06, P=0.472). Tfap2c was expressed in mesenchymal tissues of E14.5 mouse molar germs and the relative expression of Tfap2c in mesenchymal tissues was significantly higher than epithelial tissues ( t=37.29, P<0.0001). For molar germs transfected with Tfap2c siRNA, the relative height of cusps (0.708±0.171) and the ratio of cusp height and crown height (0.321±0.068) was significantly lower than control group (1.000±0.287 and 0.483±0.166) ( t=2.79, P=0.012; t=2.85, P=0.015). But there was no significant difference in relative height (1.078±0.206, 0.993±0.254, t=0.83, P=0.419)and relative width (1.000±0.116, 0.999±0.122, t=0.01, P=0.992) of crowns between two groups. The relative expression level of genes related to odontoblast expression was decreased (Dspp: t=15.33, P<0.001; Dmp1: t=13.81, P<0.001). Tfap2c siRNA hinders cell migration in dental mesenchymal cells ( t=29.86, P=0.001), but there was no significant difference in CCK-8 absorbance value between two groups. The relative expression level of genes related to odontoblast expression was also decreased in dental mesenchymal cells transfected with Tfap2c siRNA (Dspp: t=3.86, P=0.031; Dmp1; t=4.36, P=0.022). Conclusions:Tfap2c highly expressed in the early morphogenesis period of mouse molar germs, mainly in mesenchymal tissues. Tfap2c affected the cusps formation of mouse molar germs and migration of dental mesenchymal cells.