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Organ transplants will be replaced by regeneration
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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In China, scientists have made a sensational discovery – a new molecule is capable of triggering tissue regeneration processes in the human body. This discovery may be useful for patients with various tissue and organ damages.
The team of specialists was led by Dr. Chou Dawan and Xiamen University lecturer Deng Xiangming, and Professor Yun Caihong also participated in the study. The scientists published the results of their work in one of the scientific journals.
As Dr. Davan explained, the new molecule they managed to discover triggers regeneration processes in liver, intestinal, and skin tissues. The professor also noted that after some time, drugs based on the new molecule will replace the existing organ transplantation, complex biomaterial and cell therapy. Drugs based on the molecule, called XMU-MP-1, reduce the activity of the main molecule in one of the intracellular signaling pathways, which is responsible for the size of the organ.
Scientists experimented with rodents that had various organ damage, including liver damage due to paracetamol intake (acute and chronic). It is worth noting that liver damage of this nature is one of the main causes of liver failure worldwide. Studies have shown that drugs with XMU-MP-1 promote cell tissue growth in 4 different types of liver damage, indicating the enormous potential of the new drug. Dr. Chou's team has already begun collaborating with several pharmaceutical companies that may produce regenerative drugs based on XMU-MP-1 in the future, and has also filed a patent application.
Scientists suggest that the new molecule will find application not only in medicine, but also in other areas, for example, in cosmetics.
Regenerative processes have long interested scientists and the most striking representative of the animal world, capable of growing damaged limbs is the lizard. It is these reptiles that interested scientists, and after lengthy studies, they were finally able to understand how regenerative processes occur in lizards.
Researchers have discovered that lizards have microRNAs that control the regeneration of spines, muscles, and cartilage. Based on the data obtained, scientists hope to develop innovative therapeutic methods that trigger regeneration processes in humans.
Scientists noted that microRNAs can control many genes at the same time, which is what prompted them to think that they can participate in regeneration processes. Specialists are confident that the six-year studies will not end in failure and assume that their discovery will help patients recover from accidents and participants in military operations in the future, for example, with cartilage fractures in joints, spinal cord or muscle injuries.
As the head of the scientific project reported, the study showed that small RNA molecules, which are asymmetrically located in different parts of the tail, are extremely important for lizards; it is possible that this property of reptiles will also help people.
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