Macrophage-based technologies for tissue regeneration – AstraZeneca

Ryan Hicks Head of Bioscience Cell Therapy, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Peter Currie Director of Research, Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI), Monash University, Australia. Degenerative chronic diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), are associated with tissue damage in the respective organs. This trauma triggers a complex response that aims to drive the repair and regeneration of the organ. As the diseases progress, cellular mechanisms become dysregulated, and there is an onset of fibrosis or scarring, impairing normal tissue function and ultimately leading to organ failure and eventually death. Macrophages are a type of white blood cell of the immune system that engulfs dead material in the body, helps fight infections, and stimulates the action of other immune cells. Recently, researchers have also found that macrophages can break down scar tissue and stimulate regeneration in the tissue. The potential of harnessing the body’s immune system to kickstart and accelerate tissue healing could be game-changing for regenerative medicine. Different tissues show distinct regenerative capacities, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms are far from clear. In a recent Nature publication, findings from the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) lab start to identify the source and nature of macrophages…
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