Insights into the Regeneration of Skin from Acomys, the Spiny Mouse

The document from January 15, 2019, reviewed the remarkable regenerative abilities of the spiny mouse (Acomys), which can regenerate large areas of skin, including hair and other skin structures, without scarring. The review compared this process to the scarring seen in common lab mice (Mus musculus) and suggested that differences in immune responses and molecular factors between the two species are key to the regenerative abilities of Acomys. It was noted that the spiny mouse's skin is inherently weaker, possibly as an evolutionary adaptation to escape predators by shedding skin. The review also discussed the favorable balance of matrix metalloproteases to their inhibitors in Acomys, which is similar to the balance in embryonic skin that heals without scarring. The document concluded that the molecular differences identified could offer significant insights into how to prevent scarring and promote skin regeneration in humans.