The therapeutic potential of stem cells in the treatment of craniofacial abnormalities

Anomalies associated with the vertebrate head and face account for a third of all reported major birth defects. Of the principle cell populations that participate in formation of the craniofacial complex, the neural crest is central, generating much of the peripheral nervous system and constituting the predominant connective tissue-forming mesenchyme of the facial skeleton. Many craniofacial anomalies are, therefore, largely attributed to defects in neural crest cell development. Neural crest cells exhibit many of the features of stem cells; they are multipotent, remarkably plastic and have a limited capacity for self-renewal. This article will review recent studies that demonstrate the ability of stem cells to generate neural crest cell populations that form appropriate neural crest derivatives in the developing craniofacial complex, and will discuss the potential application for stem cells in the treatment of craniofacial disorders.