“Nature Cell Biology” recently published a study showing that physical signals in the womb impact the development of neural crest cells, which are responsible for forming facial features. Researchers from UCL led the study and discovered that an increase in hydrostatic pressure experienced by the embryo can negatively affect the development of facial features in mouse and frog embryos. This suggests that physical cues in the womb play a significant role in the development of neural crest cells, not just genetics.Human embryoids, which are cell structures grown in the lab from human stem cells, show that differences in pressure may impact the risk of facial malformations. The study revealed that increased pressure can hinder key cell signaling pathways in neural crest cells, leading to a significant increase in the risk of craniofacial malformations. Lead author Professor Roberto Mayor from UCL Cell & Developmental Biology suggests that facial malformations could be influenced by physical cues such as pressure, in addition to genetics. The findings indicate that pressure in the womb could play a role in the development of facial malformations.The study suggests that all cells, including embryos, have the ability to detect changes in pressure. The researchers highlighted the need for further research to understand how changes in pressure, both inside the body and in the environment, may impact human embryo development. Additionally, they believe that their findings could have important implications for stem cell research, as it sheds light on the process of stem cells transitioning into specialized cells.Stem cells are affected by pressure, and understanding this relationship could change how scientists use stem cells for medical purposes. Professor Mayor and colleagues at UCL have found that cells in the developing embryo can sense the stiffness of the surrounding cells, which is important for the formation of facial features and the skull. The discovery adds to their previous work on how mechanical cues in the womb can impact facial development.
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