Proteomics-Based Analysis of Periosteal Functional Pathways at the Cranial Suture in Children With Premature Closure of the Cranial Suture

Introduction: Premature closure of the cranial sutures refers to the premature closure of one or more cranial sutures, causing increased intracranial pressure and brain dysfunction, while the unclosed sutures widen under pressure, resulting in cranial deformity. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Methods: The authors performed proteomic analysis of the periosteum at the normal cranial suture versus the periosteum at the closed cranial suture in 4 children. Expressed proteins were identified by label-free mass spectrometry followed by differential expression analysis. GO and GSEA enrichment analyses were performed to explore the pathways affected by differentially expressed proteins and the immune-related pathways. Network analysis was then applied to reveal the location of the differentially expressed proteins in the human protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Results: The authors identified 135 downregulated proteins and 16 upregulated proteins. Functional enrichment analysis showed that differentially expressed proteins were enriched in immune-related pathways. Conclusion: The periosteum at the cranial sutures exerts a certain influence on suture development through cellular regulation and the immune system, suggesting that osteoblast-related pathways may contribute to suture development.