Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
11:28
3D Microtissues for Injectable Regenerative Therapy and High-throughput Drug Screening
Published on: October 4, 2017
Proteins and small molecules for cellular regenerative medicine
1Harvard Stem Cell Institute and the Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Physiological Reviews
|January 11, 2013
Summary
Regenerative medicine uses multipotent cells to repair damaged tissues. Proteins and small molecules are key signals that guide cell differentiation, delivery, and integration for effective tissue regeneration therapies.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
Background:
- Regenerative medicine aims to restore tissue function by understanding development and homeostasis.
- It holds potential for treating degenerative and ischemic diseases by replenishing cells and tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the progress in using proteins and small molecules to regulate tissue regeneration.
- To explore their role in both cellular therapies and monotherapy approaches.
Main Methods:
- Discusses the essential role of proteins and small molecules in controlling multipotent cell differentiation, delivery, and integration.
- Reviews current research on utilizing these signaling molecules in regenerative strategies.
Main Results:
- Proteins and small molecules are critical for directing multipotent cell behavior in tissue regeneration.
- These molecules can be used as therapies, alone or with cells, to enhance regeneration.
Conclusions:
- Comprehensive control of multipotent cells via signaling molecules is vital for successful tissue regeneration.
- Proteins and small molecules are fundamental tools and potential therapies in regenerative medicine.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration
Stem cell therapy is a method used in regenerative medicine to repair and restore function to damaged tissues and organs. Stem cells have the potential to proliferate and differentiate into various tissue types, making them ideal candidates for tissue regeneration. For example, hematopoietic stem cell transplants are commonly used in blood cancer treatment to replenish damaged bone marrow and restore healthy blood cells.
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell types that...
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell types that...
01:23Tissue Renewal without Stem Cells
After cellular or tissue damage, the resident stem cells present in the human body can locally repair and regenerate the damaged tissue or organ. However, even though some tissues do not have stem cells, they can repair and regenerate with the help of pre-existing cells. For example, beta cells of the pancreas and hepatocytes of the liver can divide to renew and regenerate the tissue. Here, both cell division and cell death are well regulated by homeostasis.
However, failure of such a system...
However, failure of such a system...
01:19Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can differentiate into most connective tissue cell types, except for hematopoietic cells, depending upon the source of MSCs. For example, bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into osteocytes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic and neuronal cells. MSCs can be isolated from various sources such as bone marrow, placenta, adipose tissue, teeth, and Wharton’s jelly, a gelatinous substance in the umbilical cord. The ease of their access...
01:19Overview of Regeneration and Repair
Regeneration and repair processes are critical in healing damages caused by injury, disease, and aging. In regeneration, the damaged tissue is entirely replaced with new growth that restores the original architecture and function. In contrast, tissue repair usually results in a fixed tissue architecture involving scar formation. Scars generally do not reestablish tissue function and may also exhibit structural abnormalities at the injury site.
Regeneration
All animals have varying degrees of...
Regeneration
All animals have varying degrees of...