Calvarial Healing Biology
Successful calvarial re-ossification is
a characteristic generally restricted to immature animals and infants
younger than 2 years of age. Since this osteogenic capacity rapidly
diminishes, older children and adults with non-healing cranial defects
due to trauma, craniofacial or neurosurgical
operations present a difficult reconstructive challenge and a substantial
biomedical burden. Presently, surgeons use a variety of techniques to
reconstruct non-healing calvarial defects. While these operations are
usually successful, they are complex procedures with numerous limitations.
To address these problems, we are investigating the cellular and molecular
mechanisms mediating successful calvarial re-ossification. Our long-term
goal is to provide solutions for de novo osseous tissue engineering,
replacement and repair.
How do immature animals and infants successfully re-ossify calvarial
defects? While recent studies have documented an interaction between
the dura mater and bone formation during calvarial morphogenesis and
cranial suture fusion, the biology underlying immature calvarial re-ossification
remains unknown. Based on our previous investigations in murine calvarial
morphogenesis and cranial suture fusion, we hypothesize that the immature
dura mater acts as an endogenous tissue engineer guiding calvarial defect
re-ossification.
