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A unique population of stem cells has been isolated that are capable of craniofacial reconstruction
Reported in Nature Communications, the discovery resulted from a search for treatment of craniosynostosis – a skull deformity condition in infants that leads to developmental delay and dangerous pressure within the brain. Craniofacial surgery can save lives and make a huge difference, but stem cells are a potentially superior treatment, allowing a person to ‘grow their own’ facial structure. Focusing on mice In the pursuit of a therapy, the team involved focused on the mutation Axin2 in mice that causes craniosynostosis. Wondering how this gene could cause such malformation, they analysed which areas the gene was being expressed in the skull. After mapping these cells, they found about 1% of these Axin2 expressing types were unique skeletal stem cells, able to form skeletal bone. Working towards a treatmentThe hope is that stem cells could treat birth defects and craniofacial injury
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