California California: An international research team has discovered a new type of skeletal tissue that offers great potential for advancing regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. An international research team led by the University of California, Irvine has discovered a new type of skeletal tissue. Skeletal tissue has been discovered which offers great potential for advancing regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
Most cartilage depends on a thin extracellular matrix for strength, but 'lipocartilage', found in the ears, nose and throat of mammals, is uniquely filled with fat-filled cells called 'lipochondrocytes'.It Provides highly stable internal support that enables tissue strength. It remains soft and flexible – similar to bubbly packaging material. The study published in the journal Science explains how lipocartilage cells create and maintain their own lipid stores while remaining stable in shape. Unlike normal adipocyte fat cells, lipochondrocytes never shrink or expand in response to food availability.
“The flexibility and stability of lipocartilage provides a conformable, elastic quality that is perfect for flexible body parts such as an ear lobe or the tip of a nose, which opens up exciting possibilities in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, particularly to facial defects or injuries,” said corresponding author Maxim Plichus, professor of developmental and cell biology at UC Irvine.
“Currently, cartilage reconstruction often requires removing tissue from a patient's rib – a painful and invasive procedure. In the future, patient-specific lipochondrocytes could be derived from stem cells, purified and With the help of 3D printing, these engineered tissues can be shaped to fit precisely the individual needs of birth defects, trauma, and other conditions. Provides new solutions for the treatment of cartilage diseases.”
Dr. Franz Leydig first recognized lipochondrocytes in 1854, when he observed the presence of fat droplets in the cartilage of rat ears, a discovery that had been largely forgotten until now. Now modern biochemical instruments and advanced imaging methods Together, researchers at UC Irvine have comprehensively characterized the molecular biology, metabolism, and structural role of lipocartilage in skeletal tissues.
In their research, they also uncovered a genetic process that suppresses the activity of fat-breaking enzymes and reduces the absorption of new fat molecules. When its lipids are removed, lipocartilage becomes hard and brittle. , which highlights the importance of its fat-filled cells in maintaining the tissue's combination of durability and elasticity.
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