Scientists have finally found how stem cells work in strawberry birthmarks, which are caused by blood vessels growing in unusual ways -- a finding they say could pave the way for treating these benign tumours.
An international team, led by Indian-origin scientist Anasuya Vishvanath of Victoria University, has carried out a study into infantile haemangioma or strawberry birthmarks and found that stem cells play an important role in the growth of these common infant tumours.
Strawberry birthmarks are benign tumours caused by blood vessels growing in unusual ways -- but they usually do not cause problems.
"Haemangioma are benign tumours that are caused by the abnormal growth of blood vessels. They grow rapidly for the first year of life and are then gradually replaced with fatty tissue over the next five to seven years," Vishvanath said.
The research identified key genes that are critical in the growth of the haemangioma and the isolated stem cells from the lesions. The team was able to use these stem cells to grow into bone and fat cells.
"This allowed me to develop a model using stem cells that better explains the natural progression of these benign tumours," she said.
