NIH R01 · 2024
Role of LGR+ connective tissue progenitors in TMJ development
PROJECT SUMMARY According to NIDCR, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders affect up to 12% of the population and are a major priority for further research. The high incidence in children is unusual for a chronic pain condition, suggesting a significant developmental origin. TMJ development involves precise patterning of the mandibular bony processes and diverse connective tissues including the fibrous disc, stabilizing ligaments, and tendons that connect to jaw muscles. Skeletal and soft connective tissue structures of the TMJ derive from cranial neural crest cells, yet how cell fate decisions are balanced to generate the correct tissues with spatial precision remains unresolved. In a…
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