Public release date: 10-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Donna Krupa dkrupa@the-aps.org American Physiological Society
Bethesda, Md. (May 10, 2012)This summer's action film, "The Amazing Spider-Man," is another match-up between the superhero and his nemesis the Lizard. Moviegoers and comic book fans alike will recall that the villain, AKA Dr. Curt Connors, was a surgeon who, after losing an arm, experimented with cell generation and reptilian DNA and was eventually able to grow back his missing limb. The latest issue of the journal Physiology contains a review article that looks at possible routes that unlock cellular regeneration in general, and the principles by which hair and feathers regenerate themselves in particular. The authors apply what is currently known about regenerative biology to the emerging field of regenerative medicine, which is being transformed from fantasy to reality.
The Review is entitled "Physiological Regeneration of Skin Appendages and Implications for Regenerative Medicine" and was written by Cheng-Ming Chuong, Randall B. Widelitz, Ping Wu, and Ting-Xin Jiang of the University of Southern California, and Valerie A. Randall of the University of Bradford. It appears in the current edition of Physiology, published by the American Physiological Society.
Review Article
While the concept of regenerative medicine is relatively new, animals are well known to remake their hair and feathers regularly by normal regenerative physiological processes. In their review, the authors focus on (1) how extrafollicular environments can regulate hair and feather stem cell activities and (2) how different configurations of stem cells can shape organ forms in different body regions to fulfill changing physiological needs.
The review outlines previous research on the role of normal regeneration of hair and feathers throughout the lifespan of various birds and mammals. The researchers include what is currently known about the mechanism behind this re-growth, as well as what gaps still exist in the knowledge base and remain ripe for future research.
The review examines dozens of papers on normal "physiological regeneration"the re-growth that happens over the course of an animal's life and not in response to an injury. This regeneration takes place to accommodate different stages in an animal's life (e.g., replacing downy chick feathers with an adult chicken's, or replacing the fine facial hair of a young boy with the budding beard of an adolescent), or in response to various environmental conditions (e.g., cats shedding a thick winter coat in the summer heat but re-growing it when the seasons change again, or snowshoe hares switching from brown in the summer to white in the winter for camouflage). These changes seem to respond both to internal cues such as physiology of the hair follicle itself, or external cues such as the environment, but the mechanisms behind these normal alterations are largely unknown. Stem cells inside the follicle prompt hair and feather regeneration, but researchers are still unsure how to guide those cells to form the shape, size, and orientation of these "skin appendages" so that controlled re-growth is possible. Additionally, scientists are still unsure how to re-grow hair on skin in people after severe injuries that lead to scar tissue.
Importance of the Findings
The reviewed studies suggest that while researchers are making headway in understanding how and why hair and feathers regenerate after normal loss or in response to different life stages, much still remains unknown. This missing knowledge could hold valuable clues to learning how to regenerate much more complicated and valuable structures after loss to injury, such as fingers and toes.
See the article here:
Could the ways animals regenerate hair and feathers lead to clues to restore human fingers and toes?
- Tier II INDV for Summer I or Fall 2010 (Project Soar) - May 14th, 2010 [May 14th, 2010]
- Medical Receptionist - May 25th, 2010 [May 25th, 2010]
- Student Health Advisory Committee - October 11th, 2010 [October 11th, 2010]
- UA Career Services Kick-Off - October 11th, 2010 [October 11th, 2010]
- International Alliance for the Prevention of AIDS (IAPA) - October 11th, 2010 [October 11th, 2010]
- UA Best Buddies - Campus Club - October 11th, 2010 [October 11th, 2010]
- International Alliance for the Prevention of AIDS - October 11th, 2010 [October 11th, 2010]
- Physician Assistant Careers - October 11th, 2010 [October 11th, 2010]
- Student Health Advisory Committe - December 21st, 2010 [December 21st, 2010]
- UA Chapter of Project Sunshine - February 14th, 2011 [February 14th, 2011]
- Vive Peru - February 14th, 2011 [February 14th, 2011]
- Surgery Undergraduate Research Fluency (SURF) Program - February 27th, 2011 [February 27th, 2011]
- Rehab Technician - March 19th, 2011 [March 19th, 2011]
- Medical Office Position - March 29th, 2011 [March 29th, 2011]
- Med-Start Summer Program/Counselors & Resident Assistants Needed - April 3rd, 2011 [April 3rd, 2011]
- Volunteer Training for Hospice Family Care - May 15th, 2011 [May 15th, 2011]
- Physiology : neuromuscular junction - motor unit - August 27th, 2011 [August 27th, 2011]
- Google I/O 2008 - Anatomy and Physiology of an Android - August 27th, 2011 [August 27th, 2011]
- The Science of Stress Physiology Emotions Fight Flight - August 28th, 2011 [August 28th, 2011]
- American Cancer Society Volunteer - August 28th, 2011 [August 28th, 2011]
- American Medical Student Association (AMSA) - August 28th, 2011 [August 28th, 2011]
- 16. Renal Physiology - August 28th, 2011 [August 28th, 2011]
- Plant Physiology: Phototropic Response (Britannica.com) - August 29th, 2011 [August 29th, 2011]
- 15. Cardiovascular Physiology (cont.) - August 29th, 2011 [August 29th, 2011]
- 14. Cardiovascular Physiology (cont.) - August 31st, 2011 [August 31st, 2011]
- 17. Renal Physiology (cont.) - August 31st, 2011 [August 31st, 2011]
- Human Physiology : What Is a Nucleotide? - September 1st, 2011 [September 1st, 2011]
- Lipoprotein Physiology: HDL (4/4) - September 3rd, 2011 [September 3rd, 2011]
- Heart Physiology (Ventricular filling: part 1/6) - September 3rd, 2011 [September 3rd, 2011]
- American Red Cross - September 4th, 2011 [September 4th, 2011]
- Muralcles - UA Service Club - September 4th, 2011 [September 4th, 2011]
- The Neuroscience Club - September 4th, 2011 [September 4th, 2011]
- Physical Therapy Opportunity - September 4th, 2011 [September 4th, 2011]
- 13. Cardiovascular Physiology - September 5th, 2011 [September 5th, 2011]
- Peripheral Nervous System: Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology - September 7th, 2011 [September 7th, 2011]
- Physiology Tour - September 11th, 2011 [September 11th, 2011]
- VivePeru's Winter 2011 Internships - September 11th, 2011 [September 11th, 2011]
- Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) - September 11th, 2011 [September 11th, 2011]
- Physiology of Lipoprotein Metabolism - September 13th, 2011 [September 13th, 2011]
- Anatomy and Physiology (Intro) - September 15th, 2011 [September 15th, 2011]
- Heart Physiology (Cardiac output: part 3/6) - September 16th, 2011 [September 16th, 2011]
- Lipoprotein Physiology: Overview (1/4) - September 17th, 2011 [September 17th, 2011]
- Respiratory Physiology Part 2 - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Global Brigades-Ghana - September 25th, 2011 [September 25th, 2011]
- UA College of Medicine Pediatrics Club - September 25th, 2011 [September 25th, 2011]
- Medical Opportunity over Spring Break - September 25th, 2011 [September 25th, 2011]
- Human Physiology : What Is Interphase? - September 25th, 2011 [September 25th, 2011]
- Swallowing (deglutition) from Anatomy - September 27th, 2011 [September 27th, 2011]
- Respiratory Physiology Part 1 - September 28th, 2011 [September 28th, 2011]
- Science in Action: Aero Medicine 1956 Vintage Physiology Training FIlm - September 30th, 2011 [September 30th, 2011]
- Human Body | Human Anatomy and Physiology - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- Mr.Ford's Anatomy - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- The Physiology of Cardiac Output - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- Digestive Physiology - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- Endocrine System Physiology.wmv - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- Anatomy - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- Human Physiology : What Is Mutation? - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- Anatomy and Physiology - October 5th, 2011 [October 5th, 2011]
- Human Physiology : What Is Protein Synthesis? - October 5th, 2011 [October 5th, 2011]
- Australian Coaches - Physiology and energy systems - October 5th, 2011 [October 5th, 2011]
- Renal Physiology - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Learning Anatomy and Physiology? - http://tinyurl.com/huanatomy - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- "Anatomy and Physiology", The Liver - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Homeostasis Physiology Biology - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Anatomy of the Ear and Physiology of Hearing (basics).wmv - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Interview about 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Strength Project Anatomy and Physiology: The Anatomical Position - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Autonomic Nervous System Physiology.wmv - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Peter Doherty, Nobel Laureate in Medicine, Interview - October 6th, 2011 [October 6th, 2011]
- Chapter 1 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology.wmv - October 7th, 2011 [October 7th, 2011]
- Human Physiology for Regular People - Interactive Study Guide - October 7th, 2011 [October 7th, 2011]
- 2011 Nobel Prize in Medicine - October 7th, 2011 [October 7th, 2011]
- Rockefeller University Press Conference 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Ralph Steinman - October 7th, 2011 [October 7th, 2011]
- Muscle Physiology Chapter: Video 2 of 2 - October 7th, 2011 [October 7th, 2011]
- Boyles Law from Respiratory System - Anatomy - October 7th, 2011 [October 7th, 2011]
- Respiratory Physiology Chapter 13 - October 7th, 2011 [October 7th, 2011]
- 35 Chapter 08 Part 02 Physiology - October 7th, 2011 [October 7th, 2011]
- Cell Physiology Chapter 2: Video 2 of 3 - October 7th, 2011 [October 7th, 2011]
- Human Physiology : How Does the Body Make Blood? - October 7th, 2011 [October 7th, 2011]