Macrophage-based technologies for tissue regeneration

写的:

Degenerative chronic diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), are associated with tissue damage in the respective organs. This trauma triggers a complex response that aims to drive the repair and regeneration of the organ. 随着疾病的发展, cellular mechanisms become dysregulated, and there is an onset of fibrosis or scarring, impairing normal tissue function and ultimately leading to organ failure and eventually death.

Macrophages are a type of white blood cell of the immune system that engulfs dead material in the body, 帮助抵抗感染, and stimulates the action of other immune cells. 最近, researchers have also found that macrophages can break down scar tissue and stimulate regeneration in the tissue. The potential of harnessing the body’s immune system to kickstart and accelerate tissue healing could be game-changing for regenerative medicine.

Different tissues show distinct regenerative capacities, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms are far from clear. 在最近的 自然 出版, findings from the 澳大利亚n Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) lab start to identify the source and nature of macrophages after injury and the interactions with resident stem cells. The research revealed that a specific subset of macrophages ‘dwell’ within the injury and secrete signals required for muscle regeneration.

^{After injury, macrophages (yellow) migrate to the wound.}

This study demonstrates that macrophage-derived niche signals for muscle stem cells, 比如NAMPT, can be applied as new therapeutic modalities for skeletal muscle injury and disease.

Building on these discoveries, our research seeks to better understand the role of macrophages in mediating regeneration and to investigate whether the macrophage-derived signals can be applied as new therapeutic modalities in different settings.

Our research was given a recent boost following a three year grant from the 澳大利亚n Research Council to ARMI to enable critical research into developing macrophage-based technologies for tissue regeneration.

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