Central OC Times

An international research team, led by the University of California, Irvine, has identified a new type of skeletal tissue that holds promise for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. This newly discovered tissue, termed "lipocartilage," is found in mammals' ears, nose, and throat and is characterized by fat-filled cells known as "lipochondrocytes." These cells provide internal support similar to bubbled packaging material.

According to Maksim Plikus, UC Irvine professor of developmental and cell biology, “Lipocartilage’s resilience and stability provide a compliant, elastic quality that’s perfect for flexible body parts such as earlobes or the tip of the nose, opening exciting possibilities in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, particularly for facial defects or injuries.” The potential applications include manufacturing living cartilage tailored to individual needs using patient-specific lipochondrocytes derived from stem cells.

The study was published in Science and describes how lipocartilage cells maintain their lipid reservoirs without changing size. Dr. Franz Leydig first observed lipochondrocytes in 1854 but modern techniques have now allowed researchers to understand its molecular biology and metabolism.

Raul Ramos, the study's lead author and postdoctoral researcher at UC Irvine's Plikus laboratory, stated that “the discovery of the unique lipid biology of lipocartilage challenges long-standing assumptions in biomechanics and opens doors to countless research opportunities.”

The research included contributions from experts across several countries including the U.S., Australia, Belarus, Denmark, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. Funding was provided by numerous grants from organizations such as the W.M. Keck Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

UC Irvine continues its mission through initiatives like the Brilliant Future campaign aiming to engage alumni and secure philanthropic investment for student success and research excellence.

For more information on this development or other UC Irvine news, visit news.uci.edu.