Skip to content
Medical Health Aged Care

Simple immune cell could become ‘off-the-shelf’ rapid tissue, muscle and bone healing therapy

Monash University 2 mins read

Monash University researchers have discovered a cell in the blood which – when introduced to a bone, muscle or skin injury, has the capacity to rapidly promote healing. Importantly these cells can be genetically dissimilar to the recipient, opening up the way for donated blood to be used as a possible universal cell-based therapy for regenerative medicine.

The study, led by Associate Professor Mikaël Martino  from Monash’s Australian Regenerative Medical Research Institute, and published in Nature Communications, showed that these cells, called Regulatory T cells behave like an emergency triage doctor – rapidly becoming a cell type specific for the injury it needs to heal, as well as switching on its genes associated with  immunomodulation and tissue healing.

In addition, these Regulatory T cells regulate other injury healing cells to the site, flooding the injury with beneficial factors. The T cells also actively reduce the accumulation of toxic immune cells which can hamper healing. The studies have been done in animal models using human cells.

According to Associate Professor Martino, this is one of the first times a cell-based approach to injury healing has been used via the administration of immune cells with pro-regenerative abilities. “These Regulatory T Cells have been shown to accumulate within injured tissues - facilitating repair or regeneration in multiple tissues and organs, such as muscle, skin, heart, central nervous system, and lung,” he said.

“Moreover, in animal models these cells have been shown to improve cardiac repair post-heart attack and bone remodelling in osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease.”

According to Associate Professor Martino “ these Regulatory T cells can be cultured and kept on the shelf prior to administration which means they could be banked or even become “off the shelf” products which can be injected into injury sites,” he said.

“We expect that augmenting Regulatory T cell numbers locally as early as possible after tissue damage would likely provide the maximum benefit as a therapeutic strategy for tissue healing, and that healing can be further enhanced by the addition of factors they secrete into the injured tissue.”

 


Contact details:

Monash University

Tania Ewing Media and Communications Contractor
E:
tania.ewing1@monash.edu

T: +61 (0) 408 378 422

 

For more Monash media stories, visit our news and events site 


For general media enquiries please contact:
Monash Media
E: media@monash.edu
T: +61 (0) 3 9903 4840

More from this category

  • General News, Medical Health Aged Care
  • 19/02/2025
  • 07:06
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health / Public Health Association of Australia

New study shows buying local fruit and veg in regional Victoria isn’t more expensive

18 February 2025 - A new study analysing fruit and vegetable prices in regional Victoria shows that locally grown produce doesn’t necessarily cost more than fruit and veg grown outside of the region. Health experts say the findings are good news for household budgets, local communities, local farmers and retailers, as well as the environment. The study, published today in theAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, investigated the prices of 36 commonly consumed fruits and vegetables in the Loddon Campaspe area of regional Victoria to determine whether their price varied depending on where they were grown and sold.…

  • Defence, Medical Health Aged Care
  • 19/02/2025
  • 06:00
Australian College of Nursing

The Australian College of Nursing Foundation announces the 2025 Bullwinkel Scholars

The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Foundation has named the 22 nurse leaders who are the Bullwinkel Scholars for 2025. The scholarships honour the memory of the 21 nurses killed at Radji Beach on Bangka Island, Indonesia, on 16 February 1942, and the sole survivor, Lt Col Vivian Bullwinkel. The scholarships are valued at up to $10,000 each, and provide one study travel scholarship, and 21 recipients with enrolment into ACN’s leadership programs, giving them the opportunity to further their professional journeys. The recipients have demonstrated remarkable leadership, dedication, and potential in their fields of nursing. “These winners embody the…

  • Contains:
  • Medical Health Aged Care
  • 19/02/2025
  • 02:11
Zepp Health

Italian Tennis Star Jasmine Paolini Joins Amazfit as Latest Athlete Ambassador

Paolini to Wear Amazfit Smart Wearables to Enhance Performance and Recovery. Amazfit logo to appear on Paolini’s on-court apparel. MILPITAS, Calif.–BUSINESS WIRE– Amazfit, a…

  • Contains:

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.