Bone Formation Gone Awry — NIAMS Researchers Identify Cell Involved in Pathology

Heterotopic ossification is a condition in which bone grows within soft tissue, impeding the normal function of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Scientists have been trying for some time to isolate the type of cells that lead to this abnormal bone formation, without success. Now, researchers supported in part by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) have identified a cell that contributes to this debilitating condition.

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