Diverse Cellular Players Orchestrate Regeneration After Wounding

The document from December 2020 reviews the complex process of skin regeneration following injury, focusing on the various cell types involved, such as epithelial lineages, mesenchymal cells, immune cells, and LGR6+ stem cells. It points out that while fibrosis and scar formation are common, regeneration including hair follicles is possible. The role of the immune system and microbiota in promoting regeneration is acknowledged. The article suggests that targeting specific cell populations could help shift the balance from fibrosis to regeneration. Single-cell RNA sequencing is presented as a key tool for understanding wound-induced hair neogenesis (WIHN) and developing targeted therapies. The review also touches on the balance between regeneration and avoiding cancer, the use of CRISPR-Cas9 for gene correction, and the potential of cell therapy to modify healing. It highlights the importance of creating accurate in vitro models and understanding human versus mouse skin physiology. The conclusion emphasizes advances in skin regeneration knowledge, new cell culturing methods, and the prospects for future cell therapies that avoid fibrosis and scarring. The document is a review without new data and acknowledges funding from various sources, including the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.