Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells Technologies

Frogs can regrow amputated limbs after being treated with mix of drugs, new research finds. Some unusual creatures have an innate ability to regrow a limb: salamanders, starfish, crabs and lizards.

Now, researchers in the United States said  they were able to trigger the regrowth of an amputated leg in a type of African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis), in what they described as a "step closer to the goal of regenerative medicine."

The technique used , involved applying a mix of five drugs to the test frogs' spike-like stump, sealed in with a small silicone dome. The cocktail was only applied for 24 hours, but after 18 months, the limb was almost fully functional. The frogs, which live in water, were able to swim and respond to touch. They also grew several toes.

This study is significant because it shows that patterning, albeit not perfect, can be induced in a limb that typically regenerates only a spike.The team said that the fact that only a brief exposure to the drugs set in motion a monthslong regeneration suggested that frogs -- and perhaps other animals -- have dormant regenerative capabilities that can be triggered into action.

The way to really achieve regenerative medicine is to exploit the collective intelligence of the body's cells. They already know how to build all of these organs. They did it during embryonic development and all that information is still there.

The goal is to identify triggers, very simple kinds of stimuli, that will kick-start the cells and convince them to build whatever it is that you want them to build. The drugs included molecules important for limb development or that have anti-inflammatory properties. It was the first cocktail they tested, and it was possible that a different combination of drugs and growth factor could have better results. The next stage of the research would test the technique on mammals such as mice.

Reference :

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/26/world/frogs-regenerate-limbs-scn/index.html