Local researchers have discovered how the jaw is formed, in an exciting research project that provides clues to new treatments for craniofacial defects and common sporting injuries.

Adelaide researchers have uncovered a new concept that blood vessels control several aspects of craniofacial development and cartilage growth.

Researchers Dr Sophie Wiszniak and lab head Dr Quenten Schwarz say the concept of blood vessels controlling craniofacial development is “paradigm changing”.

The research paper, ‘Neural crest cell-derived VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) promotes embryonic jaw extension’, details how the researchers used unique mouse models to show blood vessel defects resulted in jaw anomalies.

“What we found was that if there are no blood vessels on one side of the jaw, the jaw on that particular side of the face did not form properly,” Dr Schwarz said.

“There was a direct relationship between blood vessels, supporting and supplying signals to make the jaw cartilage grow.

“Our work now demonstrates that an intricate association between a specialised population of stem cells called neural crest cells and blood vessels plays an important role in promoting proliferation of the cells found in healthy cartilage to control correct jaw formation.

“This provides novel insight into the origins of craniofacial defects by showing that compromised cardiovascular function, or formation, during critical stages of embryogenesis gives rise to common birth defects.”

The researchers are now working on potential applications for new therapies, which Australian Craniofacial Unit Director of Research Professor Peter Anderson says could improve the lives of children affected by craniofacial anomalies.

“Craniofacial anomalies affect around one in every 500 babies,” he said.

“Our discovery that blood vessels control craniofacial development and cartilage growth could one day result in therapies where we can use injections to promote blood vessel growth in certain anomalies as an alternative or complement to surgical intervention. It has opened the door to exciting further research.

“Neuroblastoma forms in neural crest cells because they don’t differentiate properly.

“The more we understand about these cells and about development in the first place, the more we understand about diseases, and the more we’ll be able to understand ideas on how to treat them.”