title: Changing Paradigms in Cranio-Facial Regeneration: Current and New Strategies for the Activation of Endogenous Stem Cells.
abstract: Craniofacial area represent a unique district of human body characterized by a very high complexity of tissues, innervation and vascularization, and being deputed to many fundamental function such as eating, speech, expression of emotions, delivery of sensations such as taste, sight, and earing. For this reasons, tissue loss in this area following trauma or for example oncologic resection, have a tremendous impact on patients' quality of life. In the last 20 years regenerative medicine has emerged as one of the most promising approach to solve problem related to trauma, tissue loss, organ failure etc. One of the most powerful tools to be used for tissue regeneration is represented by stem cells, which have been successfully implanted in different tissue/organs with exciting results. Nevertheless, both autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation raise many practical and ethical concerns that make this approach very difficult to apply in clinical practice. For this reason different cell free approaches have been developed aiming to the mobilization, recruitment, and activation of endogenous stem cells into the injury site avoiding exogenous cells implant but instead stimulating patients' own stem cells to repair the lesion. To this aim many strategies have been used including functionalized bioscaffold, controlled release of stem cell chemoattractants, growth factors, BMPs, Platelet-Rich-Plasma, and other new strategies such as ultrasound wave and laser are just being proposed. Here we review all the current and new strategies used for activation and mobilization of endogenous stem cells in the regeneration of craniofacial tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Biotechnology and Medical Histology and Embryology, Second University of Naples Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mele
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, Dipartimento Medico-Chirurgico di Internistica Clinica e Sperimentale "F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara," Second University of Naples Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro Paolo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Vitiello
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Biotechnology and Medical Histology and Embryology, Second University of Naples Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tirino
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Biotechnology and Medical Histology and Embryology, Second University of Naples Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paino
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontology and Surgery, Second University of Naples Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Biotechnology and Medical Histology and Embryology, Second University of Naples Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liccardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Biotechnology and Medical Histology and Embryology, Second University of Naples Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianpaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papaccio
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Biotechnology and Medical Histology and Embryology, Second University of Naples Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Desiderio
keywords: BMP signaling; SDF1; bioscaffold; craniofacial abnormalities; regenerative medicine; stem cell transplantation; stem cells and regenerative medicine; stem cells recruitment