New study on mice gives clues to human skin repair

 A recent study published in the journal Nature has brought good news to those who are concerned about scars on their skin. This new study, done by US researchers on some African spiny mice, shows that the subject tears off their skin in order to escape predators. However, after losing up to two thirds of the skin on their backs, these tiny mice can heal up their wounds without leaving any scar.  According to the scientists the skin of these mice can rapidly heal and regrow hairs rather than forming a scar, unlike wounds in other animals. This phenomenon reminds us of salamanders, which are famed for their regenerative abilities, some salamander species can even regrow entire limbs. Scientists have been doing many studies on salamanders hoping to figure out how to produce the same effect in people.

Similarly, with the new finding in spiny mice, scientists want to figure out how the healing takes place and if it could be applied to people. Unlike salamanders, mammals however have very limited ability to regrow lost organs. Normally, when the skin got wounded, a scar will be formed. This study shows that mammals as a group may in fact have higher regenerative abilities than they are given credit for.

Together with the ability to heal skin, the mice are also able to heal large circular hole punches in their ears; they regenerated hair follicles, sweat glands and cartilage.

Tests showed the mice produced a "regeneration hub" known as a blastema in order to repair the injury. It is this bundle of stem cells that is also used by the salamander to rebuild missing body parts. According to scientists, the failure to form a blastema is one of the main constraints on regenerating appendages in humans, or mammals.

The extracellular matrix in the web of proteins that holds cells in place is another difference. These African mice appear to deposit extracellular matrix into the wounds on their skin at a slower rate than other mice species, pigs or humans. Although many scientists have been trying to speed up the healing process, the study on spiny mice shows that slowing things down is perhaps the right path towards regeneration. However, working out what is happening and then trying to transfer the findings to people is likely to be a long journey.

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v489/n7417/full/nature11499.html