A group of researchers have discovered new bone-forming cells that play an important role in...Fight against osteoporosiscould play. They have the ability to create new bones. This is a group of stem cells that scientists at the UConn School of Dental Medicine have newly discovered. They published the study in the journal Stem Cells.
Bone-forming cells against bone loss
The lead researchers are Ivo Kalajzic, professor of reconstructive science, postdoctoral researchers Sierra Root and Natalie Wee, and collaborators from Harvard, the Maine Medical Research Center and the University of Auckland. They present a new population of cells located along the vascular channels. These extend across the bone and connect the inner and outer parts of the bone.
“This is a new discovery of perivascular cells located within the bone itself. Accordingly, they can generate new bone-forming cells,” said Kalajzic. “These cells likely regulate bone formation or participate in the maintenance and repair of bone mass.”
Scientists have long thought that bone stem cells are present in the bone marrow and on the outer surface of the bone. However, these serve primarily as reserve cells that constantly form new bone or take part in bone repair. Recent studies have described the existence of a network of vascular channels that help distribute blood cells from the bone marrow. However, no research has proven the existence of cells in these canals that have the ability to form new bone.
New study results
In this study, Kalajzic and his team are the first to report the existence of these cell precursors in cortical bone. These can produce new bone-forming cells or so-called osteoblasts. In addition, medicine can use these to remodel a bone.
To reach this conclusion, the researchers observed the stem cells within a bone grafting model. These cells then migrated out of the graft and began to reconstruct the cavities in the bone marrow and form new bone.
While thisStudyshows that there is a population of cells that can help support bone formation, further research needs to be done to determine the potential of the cells to regulate bone formation and resorption.
