A Possible Path to Prevent Scarring in Mammals

Scarring occurs in mammals but not in highly regenerative species such as salamanders. Some research results from past years suggest that scar formation isn't an essential part of the mammalian healing process, such as the ability of MRL mice to heal minor wounds without scars. Here researchers report on initial progress towards a potential means of suppressing scar formation: Scars are comprised mainly of collagen, a fibrous protein secreted by a type of cell found in the skin called a fibroblast. Collagen is one of the main components of the extracellular matrix - a three-dimensional web that supports and stabilizes the cells in the skin. "The biomedical burden of scarring is enormous. About 80 million incisions a year in this country heal with a scar, and that's just on the skin alone. Internal scarring is responsible for many medical conditions, including liver cirrhosis, pulmonary fibrosis, intestinal adhesions and even the damage left behind after a heart attack." In late 2013, a study showed that fibroblasts in the skin of mice arise as two distinct lineages. One, in the lower layer of the skin, mediates the initial steps of repair in response to wounding. Researchers wondered whether this fibroblast type, which expresses a protein called engrailed, could be responsible for the collagen deposition that leads to scarring. They generated genetically engineered mice in which the cells, called EPF cells for "engrailed-positive fibroblasts," were labeled with green fluore...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs