Developing a pro-regenerative biomaterial scaffold microenvironment requires T helper 2 cells

Immune-mediated tissue regeneration driven by a biomaterial scaffold is emerging as an innovative regenerative strategy to repair damaged tissues. We investigated how biomaterial scaffolds shape the immune microenvironment in traumatic muscle wounds to improve tissue regeneration. The scaffolds induced a pro-regenerative response, characterized by an mTOR/Rictor-dependent T helper 2 pathway that guides interleukin-4-dependent macrophage polarization, which is critical for functional muscle recovery. Manipulating the adaptive immune system using biomaterials engineering may support the development of therapies that promote both systemic and local pro-regenerative immune responses, ultimately stimulating tissue…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Defense

  Award: W81XWH-11-2-0022
• RT
  Research to Prevent Blindness
• HF
  Hartwell Foundation
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: R01AI077610
• BI
  Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University
• AF
  Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine