Stem cells of the suture mesenchyme in craniofacial bone development, repair and regeneration.

ABSTRACT: The suture mesenchyme serves as a growth centre for calvarial morphogenesis and has been postulated to act as the niche for skeletal stem cells. Aberrant gene regulation causes suture dysmorphogenesis resulting in craniosynostosis, one of the most common craniofacial deformities. Owing to various limitations, especially the lack of suture stem cell isolation, reconstruction of large craniofacial bone defects remains highly challenging. Here we provide the first evidence for an Axin2-expressing stem cell population with long-term self-renewing, clonal expanding and differentiating abilities during calvarial development and homeostastic maintenance. These cells, which reside in the suture midline, contribute directly to injury repair and skeletal regeneration in a cell autonomous fashion. Ou

SUBMITTER: Maruyama T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4740445 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature