Advances in animal models and multi-omics technologies for cleft palate research.

Non-syndromic cleft palate only is one of the most common congenital craniofacial malformations, arising from complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. In recent years, animal models have been extensively utilized in cleft palate research, especially in conjunction with multi-omics technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing, transcriptomics, proteomics, and epigenomics. These approaches have revealed multidimensional molecular mechanisms underlying cleft palate formation. Animal models provide valuable data for investigating gene regulation and intercellular communication during palatogenesis, offering theoretical foundations for the development of novel early diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the application of animal models in cleft palate research, with a particular focus on their integration with multi-omics techniques. We discuss how these technologies contribute to uncovering the pathogenic mechanisms of cleft palate and advancing early diagnosis and intervention approaches. Furthermore, we explore the challenges and prospects involved in translating these research findings into clinical applications.