Axolots are amphibians that measure about 20 centimeters and are more easily found in Mexico, despite being in extinction. These amphibians are extensively studied due to their capacity for regeneration, mainly in the liver and spinal cord.
It was recently verified that an axolotl was able to regenerate his face and eye lost due to an infection, which aroused interest in the scientific community to understand how this was possible and if this same mechanism could be replicated in humans.
What was verified
Although it is already known about the regenerative power of the axolotl in relation to the liver and spine, the ability to regenerate the axolotl skin has recently been verified. That's because, one of the amphibians got a fungal infection that was responsible for the destruction of half of his face and it was verified that after about 2 months, the axolotl was able to regenerate the lost tissue and acquire a fully functional eye.
What is already known
So far it is known that axolotls have the capacity to regenerate liver cells, however, the mechanism for this to happen is still the focus of studies, and further investigations are needed to be clear about how it happens.
It is believed that the immune system plays an essential role in this regeneration process, especially macrophages. In one of the studies, before the amputation, a concentrate of macrophages was injected into the axolotl, and the formation of scar tissue can then be observed, which suggests that these cells may have a direct relationship with the regeneration process. Despite this evidence, more studies need to be done in order to prove the relationship and understand in fact how the regeneration process works.
Health impact of the regenerative power of axolotl
The liver's ability to regenerate, and now the axolotl's skin and eye's ability to regenerate, put this amphibian again at the center of discussions and studies. It is proposed by scientists to study the regeneration mechanism that axolotls have, and several applications are proposed from the moment when viability is verified in humans, such as in the treatment of wounds and diseases that lead to the loss of a limb and in healing of organs such as the heart and liver.
In addition, studies have been carried out and found that the cancer rate in amphibians and, especially, in axolotls is very low and it is believed that this is due to the mechanisms related to cell regeneration, which prevent the development of cancer. Therefore, these regeneration mechanisms are also being studied to verify their relationship with the development of cancer and how it can prevent the proliferation of malignant cells. Thus, it is possible that new studies related to cancer treatment will be developed.
