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Published on: January 31, 2015
TISSUE REPAIR AND EPIMORPHIC REGENERATION: AN OVERVIEW
Ricardo Londono1, Aaron X Sun1,2,3, Rocky S Tuan1,3
1Center for Cellular and Molecular Engineering, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Mammals typically form fibrotic scar tissue instead of regenerating limbs. Lower species like salamanders regenerate tissues through epimorphic regeneration, involving blastema formation.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Wound healing is a critical process.
- Epimorphic regeneration is a complex biological phenomenon.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss wound healing as part of epimorphic regeneration.
- To explore the immune system's role in this process.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of epimorphic regeneration.
- Analysis of immune system involvement in regeneration.
Main Results:
- Epimorphic regeneration involves blastema formation.
- The apical epithelial cap is crucial for blastema development.
- Mammalian tissue repair often results in fibrosis, unlike regeneration in lower species.
Conclusions:
- True regeneration is rare in mammals.
- Lower species (planarians, salamanders, reptiles) exhibit epimorphic regeneration.
- Blastemal cells may arise from de-differentiation, transdifferentiation, or stem cell migration.
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