Signal control during tissue regeneration in adult animals

Tissue regeneration has historically been the subject of intense scientific scrutiny, from basic biology to applications in regenerative medicine. Use of model organisms and cutting-edge technologies have uncovered various mechanisms of regeneration, but understanding how signals are regulated spatiotemporally to renew lost structures at scale remains a challenge. Recent insights into chromatin structure and enhancer regulation, immune-tissue crosstalk, bioelectric and metabolic cues and quantitative modelling are broadening and reshaping our understanding of how tissues repair and renew. The evolution of cutting-edge tools for in vivo profiling and tracking of single cells is providing unprecedented dynamic views of regeneration across scales. Here, we synthesize the current knowledge of signal control in regeneration, with emphasis on conceptual advances, technical innovations and future directions for a more quantitative understanding of regenerative biology.