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Researchers identify a new way to promote tissue regeneration

Activating innate immunity induces pluripotency

Date:
March 9, 2017
Source:
Houston Methodist
Summary:
Researchers have identified an immune pathway that promotes the formation of a cell that can develop into new tissues and organs.
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Houston Methodist researchers have identified an immune pathway that promotes the formation of a cell that can develop into new tissues and organs.

In a new study published in the journal Stem Cells, a team led by John P. Cooke, M.D., Ph.D., chair of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Research Institute, described how activation of innate immunity enhances nuclear reprogramming, one of the first steps in tissue regeneration, or the formation of new tissues and organs from a single cell in the body.

"We found that activating the innate immune system opens up the DNA," said Cooke, the study's senior author. "This open state enhances the formation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) or cells that can have the ability to regenerate into other cell types and tissues, such as that of the brain, heart or liver."

The use of iPSCs to generate tissues would revolutionize transplantation, facilitating the growth of artificial organs. Cellular nuclear reprogramming is a powerful tool that enables researchers to direct a skin cell to become another type of tissue or organ. Cooke's team plans to use the activation of innate immunity to regenerate damaged tissues to improve wound healing or recovery after a heart attack.


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Materials provided by Houston Methodist. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Nazish Sayed, Frank Ospino, Farhan Himmati, Jieun Lee, Palas Chanda, Edward S. Mocarski, John P. Cooke. Retinoic Acid Inducible Gene 1 Protein (RIG1)-like Receptor Pathway is Required for Efficient Nuclear Reprogramming. STEM CELLS, 2017; DOI: 10.1002/stem.2607

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Houston Methodist. "Researchers identify a new way to promote tissue regeneration." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 9 March 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170309142303.htm>.
Houston Methodist. (2017, March 9). Researchers identify a new way to promote tissue regeneration. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170309142303.htm
Houston Methodist. "Researchers identify a new way to promote tissue regeneration." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170309142303.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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