Rethinking Regeneration: Empowerment of Stem Cells by Inflammation

The document discusses the role of inflammation in stem cell-mediated tissue regeneration, highlighting that immune cells and their inflammatory factors are crucial in directing stem cell behavior during this process. It presents evidence that mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) can suppress immune responses and promote tissue repair when licensed by pro-inflammatory cytokines. A study on skeletal muscle stem cells (MuSCs) showed that T cells are essential for muscle regeneration, as their cytokines can drive MuSC expansion and replenish the stem cell pool. Another study demonstrated that macrophages facilitate hair follicle regeneration by producing TNFa, which activates hair follicle stem cells. These findings suggest that the interaction between stem cells and immune responses is key to tissue repair and regeneration, and further research in stem cell immunology could lead to new regenerative medicine strategies.