Tissue Homeostasis and Regeneration: Human Limitations and Potential

January 2008 in “ Elsevier eBooks ”

Anders Lindahl

hair follicle stem cell niches tissue engineering regenerative medicine autologous tissue regeneration

Studysummary This chapter discusses the concepts of regeneration and homeostasis, noting that in vertebrates, regeneration is limited to certain tissues like liver, blood, and bone.

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The document from 2008 discusses tissue homeostasis and regeneration, noting that humans have limited regenerative abilities compared to simpler organisms, with certain tissues like the liver and bone capable of regeneration. It challenges previous beliefs that the adult human brain and heart cannot regenerate, presenting evidence of neurogenesis and cardiomyocyte division. The role of stem cell niches in maintaining tissue balance is emphasized, with these niches found in areas such as the intestine, hair follicle, and bone marrow. The document also touches on the potential of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine to enhance autologous tissue regeneration by understanding and replicating the microenvironments of stem cell niches. It suggests that future approaches may involve local implantation of substances or nanoconstructed niches to support natural cell migration and tissue repair.

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Research cited in this study

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research Stem Cells and Their Niches

1549 citations , March 2006 in “Science”

This review discusses the stem cell niche concept in mammalian systems and reports no new clinical results, highlighting recent progress and identifying important unanswered questions.

research Long-Term Renewal of Hair Follicles from Clonogenic Multipotent Stem Cells

291 citations , October 2005 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America”

This study found that rat whisker follicle stem cells can be expanded in culture and transplanted to form functional hair follicles, demonstrating their multipotency and potential for regenerative medicine.

research Morphogenesis and Renewal of Hair Follicles from Adult Multipotent Stem Cells

949 citations , January 2001 in “Cell”

This study demonstrated that multipotent stem cells in adult mice whisker follicles migrate to produce whisker growth, and that this process requires precise control of stem cell trafficking.