Thursday, March 28, 2024
Researchers have unveiled a significant advancement in comprehending a critical aspect of wound healing, particularly relevant in conditions like diabetes and aging, which collectively incur healthcare costs exceeding $250 billion annually. Published in Nature, their study identifies a molecule pivotal in tissue repair. Injecting this molecule into animal models accelerates wound closure by up to 2.5 times and enhances muscle regeneration by 1.6 times.
Leading the research is Associate Professor Mikaël Martino, affiliated with Monash University’s Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) and EMBL Australia. Martino underscores the transformative potential of this discovery in regenerative medicine, shedding light on the vital role of sensory neurons in orchestrating tissue repair and regeneration, offering promising avenues for improving patient outcomes.
The annual cost of managing poorly healing wounds exceeds $250 billion, with diabetic foot ulcers being the most prevalent. Dr. Yen-Zhen Lu, a co-lead author from ARMI, points out the escalating prevalence of diabetic foot ulcers due to factors such as increased longevity and medical complexities in diabetic patients.
Nociceptive sensory neurons, responsible for pain sensation, play a crucial role in alerting the body to potential tissue damage. The researchers discovered that during the healing process, these neurons extend into injured skin and muscle tissues, communicating with immune cells through a neuropeptide called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP).
Martino underscores CGRP's remarkable role in controlling immune cells to facilitate tissue healing after injury. Removing sensory neurons in mice significantly impairs wound healing and muscle regeneration, highlighting the importance of these neurons in CGRP dissemination.
Administering an engineered version of CGRP to mice with neuropathy similar to diabetic patients resulted in rapid wound healing and muscle regeneration. According to Martino, these findings hold significant promise for regenerative medicine, particularly in addressing poorly healing tissues and chronic wounds.
Understanding neuro-immune interactions in tissue healing opens avenues for developing innovative therapies. This study not only advances comprehension of tissue healing after acute injury but also offers hope for millions through effective therapeutic approaches, either alone or in combination with existing treatments.
Source: monash.edu
