Bone stem cells can regenerate bone and cartilage in mice

A stem cell that can regenerate bone and cartilage has been identified in bone marrow of mice, a research team reports in Cell.

The cells care called osteochondroreticular (OCR) stem cells. It seems that they self-renew and generate key bone and cartilage cells. When they are transplanted to a fracture site, they contribute to bone repair.

“The question is, could this happen in humans?” says Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee, a senior author of the study.

The researchers believe that OCR stem cells will be found in human bone tissue, as mice and humans have similar bone biology. Further study could provide greater understanding of how to prevent and treat osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and bone fractures.

“Our findings raise the possibility that drugs or other therapies can be developed to stimulate the production of OCR stem cells and improve the body’s ability to repair bone injury, a process that declines significantly in old age,” says Dr Timothy C. Wang, who initiated the research.

Image credit: Yinan Chen