These cells could improve tissue repair and regeneration in the future, according to a paper published in the journal Nature Communications.
For more than a century, scientists have hypothesized the existence of such a cell, and now, a copy of it has finally been found, hiding in the aorta of adult mice.
Scientists named the cells EndoMac ancestors. The team is now seeking to search for similar cells in the human body.
Scientist Sanori Liang from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) explains, “These cells have an important function, which is to help grow blood vessels when the body requires them.” “They are activated when there is injury or poor blood flow, at which point they expand rapidly to aid healing.”
Liang and his colleagues isolated EndoMac progenitor cells from mice and cultured them in the laboratory, where they formed colonies. When injected into mouse models of diabetes, the cell colonies significantly improved wound healing.
To understand how EndoMac progenitor cells work, it is important to first consider macrophages (the first immune cells produced by the fetus, which are essential for development).
The study results indicate that embryonic macrophage progenitor cells are seeded into the aorta of the heart during early development. Then, as the mice age, these circulating stem cells introduce new macrophages into the tissue.
“This represents a major advance in our understanding of vascular regeneration and holds promise for creating more effective treatments that support the body’s ability to heal and maintain function over time,” Liang says. In theory, this could be a big game changer for patients with chronic wounds. “We are excited to continue exploring the potential of these cells.”
Source: ScienceAlert
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2024-09-30 05:00:26
