Published in “The New England Journal of Medicine”
Tissue and organ failure that results from congenital abnormalities, trauma, disease, or aging contributes to substantial morbidity and mortality. Although the 20th and early 21st centuries have brought dramatic advancements in the use of synthetic and mechanical devices to replace tissues, the restoration of tissue and organ structure and function remains a clinical challenge. Many biologic functions cannot be replicated with such devices, and the unavoidable immune responses that are induced when allografts (see Glossary) of human organs, tissues, or cells are implanted can limit the functionality and longevity of biologic approaches. Regenerative medicine has emerged as a potential alternative approach for tissue and organ restoration in which the engineered tissue is biologically functional. Traditional approaches for regenerative medicine involve biomaterial scaffolds, stem and progenitor cells, and biologic signaling molecules, alone or in combination, to promote new development of healthy tissue (Fig. 1A). A more recent strategy, “regenerative immunology,” promotes tissue healing and regeneration through reprogramming of the host immune system. However, organ transplantation is still the most complete option in regenerative medicine, providing an autologous, allogeneic, or potentially xenogeneic replacement for complete physical and biologic restoration. Read more at DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1913421
PHAGElogist 