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Do salamanders hold the solution to regeneration?

Researchers from Monash University found that macrophages play a crucial role in salamander regeneration. Without them, salamanders lose their ability to regenerate and form scar tissue instead. The study brings scientists closer to understanding the conditions needed for human regeneration.

SourceMonash University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 20, 2013

Pulmonary fibrosis: Between a ROCK and a hard place

Pulmonary fibrosis is a scarring of the lungs that causes shortness of breath and fatigue. Researchers identified a mechanosensitive cellular signaling pathway in myofibroblasts, which promotes survival and prevents normal cell disappearance after wound healing.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateFeb 22, 2013

Study suggests different organ-derived stem cell injections improve heart function

Researchers found that both skeletal muscle MSCs and adipose tissue MSCs improved left ventricle function and reduced infarct size after injection into the heart of laboratory rats. The study suggests that these cells may be a potential treatment modality for patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Researchers implicate well-known protein in fibrosis

Researchers at Northwestern University have implicated toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the development of tissue fibrosis, a hallmark of scleroderma. The study found that mutations in the TLR4 gene made mice resistant to experimental scleroderma and that patients with scleroderma had abnormal TLR4 levels in affected tissues.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·DateNov 20, 2012

Modifying scar tissue can potentially improve outcome in chronic stroke

Researchers at the Buck Institute have found that modifying scar tissue can potentially improve outcomes in chronic stroke. The study builds on spinal cord injury research and shows that treatments like chondroitinase ABC and glypican can reduce scar tissue size, stimulate neuron growth, and increase survival.

SourceBuck Institute for Research on Aging·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 21, 2012

Cancer drug may also work for scleroderma

Researchers found that bortezomib inhibits transforming growth factor beta, a protein essential for scar tissue growth, preventing its development in human cells and mouse models. The drug also prevented expression of proteins necessary for scarring in fibroblast cells from scleroderma patients

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalThorax·DateSep 22, 2011

A drugstore within

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University found that mesenchymal stem cells can inhibit an overactive immune system and promote tissue repair. These cells have shown potential in treating conditions such as acute heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and juvenile diabetes.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateJul 7, 2011

UT Southwestern pediatric urologist develops procedure to eliminate scarring in kidney surgeries

A new minimally invasive procedure called hidden incision endoscopic surgery (HIdES) eliminates visible scarring in kidney surgeries. The technique, developed by Dr. Patricio Gargollo, offers greater technical flexibility than laparoscopic surgery and has been shown to provide higher satisfaction rates among patients.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalThe Journal of Urology·DateJul 1, 2011

New Stanford device could reduce surgical scarring

Researchers at Stanford University developed a special wound dressing that significantly reduced scar tissue caused by incisions in animal tests and early clinical trials. The novel 'stress-shielding device' provides uniform compression across the wound, reducing scarring and potentially making surgical revisions more appealing.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalAnnals of Surgery·DateMay 23, 2011

Molecular muscle: Small parts of a big protein play key roles in building tissues

A team at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology found that tiny pieces of a protein called tenascin-C can bind to specific sites on another protein, helping to construct tissue. These small domains may help stop uncontrolled matrix deposition in conditions like fibrosis, making them potential tools for controlling diseases.

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateMar 23, 2011