| Suture stem cells in pediatric craniosynostosis:
pathophysiological mechanisms, surgical management,
and emerging regenerative therapies |
Fangxin Guo 
, Guodong Song
|
|
Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Beijing, China |
Correspondence:
Guodong Song, Email: sgd1220@126.com
|
|
Received: 28 July 2026 • Revised: 7 September 2026 • Accepted: 9 September 2026 |
|
|
| Abstract |
|
Craniosynostosis (CS) is a complex congenital disorder
characterized by the premature fusion of one or more
cranial sutures resulting from interactions between
genetic alterations, environmental influences, and the
dysregulated differentiation of cranial suture stem cells
(SuSCs). Increasing evidence indicates that SuSC homeostasis
disruption, including alterations in glioma-associated
oncogene homolog 1-positive, axis inhibition protein
2-positive, and other stem/progenitor cell populations,
along with aberrant regulation of developmental signaling
pathways, plays a central role in the pathogenesis of CS.
This review summarizes current advances in SuSC biology
and the molecular mechanisms of, diagnostic approaches
for, and therapeutic strategies for CS. By integrating
evidence from studies published in 2000–2026, we discuss
how genetic mutations and signaling pathways, including
the fibroblast growth factor, bone morphogenetic protein,
Wnt, and Hedgehog pathways, influence SuSC maintenance,
lineage commitment, and osteogenic differentiation.
We further summarize recent clinical advances,
including virtual surgical planning, three-dimensional
printing, and endoscope-assisted minimally invasive
techniques, as well as emerging molecular and stem cellbased
regenerative strategies aimed at restoring functional
cranial suture structures. By connecting genetic
mechanisms, stem cell biology, and translational medicine,
this review provides an integrated framework to
increase our understanding of the pathogenesis of CS and
highlights potential directions for the development of
mechanism-based therapies to improve long-term craniofacial
and neurodevelopmental outcomes. |
| Key Words:
Craniosynostosis, Suture mesenchymal
stem cells, Stem cell niche, Stem cell therapy, Molecular
therapy |
|
PDF Links
Download Citation
