Researchers identified a new population of stem cells present in the nail bed that have the ability to self-renew or even undergo specialization into different tissues.
To find these fascinating stem cells the researchers used a novel system to attach fluorescent proteins to mouse nails, the University of Southern California - Health Sciences reported. Many of theses cells divided, diluting the fluorescence, but some cells located in the soft tissue remained undivided or divided extremely slowly.
The researchers observed that these slow-dividing cells had the ability to perform multiple roles. Under normal circumstances the stem cells aid in the growth of the nails and surrounding skin, but if the nail is damaged or lost a something called the "Bone Morphogenic Protein (BMP) signals the stem cells to switch roles and focus on nail repair.
"That was very surprising discovery, since the dual characteristic of these nail stem cells to regenerate both the nail and skin under certain physiological conditions is quite unique and different from other skin stem cells, such as those of the hair follicle or sweat gland," principal investigator Krzysztof Kobielak.
The researchers are now wondering if these signals could prompt the stem cells to perform other types of tissue as well. These types of breakthroughs could help repair nail and finger defects as well as larger injuries and amputations.
The findings were published in a recent edition of The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Funding came from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study was led by USC Stem Cell researchers Kobielak and co-first authors Yvonne Leung and Eve Kandyba, additional co-authors included USC researchers Yi-Bu Chen, Seth Ruffins and Cheng-Ming Chuong.
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