In an highly ambitious goal, a team of scientists explore epimorphic regeneration in humans to regrow arms and legs. Growing digits and limbs with 3D structure and with functionality may be a reality one day according to a team at Tulane and Washington Universities.
Breaking the chains of the biological complexities and their regenerative processes that would allow humans to regrow limbs, along with digits. The authors of the paper, Looking Ahead to Engineering Epimorphic Regeneration of a Human Digit or Limb, published in Tissue Engineering, Part B, Reviews, highlight this “would radically change the prognosis and quality of life for amputees.”
They show that Epimorphic Regeneration happens in certain species such as salamanders which have the ability to regenerate limbs, the tail, and even eye lenses, with a deer their antlers can regenerate.
What Is Epimorphic Regeneration?
In amphibians, after limb loss, the amputation area heals forming an epidermal layer. The tissues underneath experience a process of matrix remodeling. A blastema (heterogeneous cell mass) starts to form coming from the proliferation and migration of the adjacent cells.
These dedifferential cells in the regeneration bud or blastema finally redifferentiate to form new tissues that are configured to reconstruct the original limb. The process of amphibian epimorphic regeneration can offer hints for humans.
Epimorphic Regeneration In Humans
In some cases of children and adults who have had the tips of digits lost, they can regenerate, providing certain conditions are present. One condition is that some of the nail bed remains.
According to physicians whom specialize in digit regeneration research, with infants and very young children if the injury is left well alone. Along without further removing of the bone and no any stitching of the wound, then the finger tip may very well grow back, assuming not too much of the nail bed is lost. For further information on this you can refer to Dr. Christopher H. Allan, MD, where he highlights this in one of his presentations.
Epimorphic regeneration has specific steps that promote the partial or complete restoration of a digit or a limb after amputation.
The highly ambitious pursuit of obtaining epimorphic regeneration in humans, requires the regrowth of multiple tissues. These would then need to be assembled in the right sequence and patterns to regrow a fully functional limb.
This fascinating subject requires the combination of the latest advances in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Examining the comprehensive research that is already out there in published reports of the potential of human regeneration, with the process of human digit healing.
A detailed look at the mechanisms of epimorphic regeneration, in non-mammalian creatures and also some mammalian models of regeneration is examined, including the tip of a mouse. These models can be observed in comparing regeneration tissues that are suitable and what is not competent in the same animal.
Moving Forward
The scientists have observed that similar to skin grafts put across the injury site, it might be possible to suture an engineered epithelial layer. A further in-depth understanding “…of the proper soluble factor communication necessary, however, could lead to a more direct approach of the delivering growth factors to the region, leveraging drug delivery paradigms that create spatiotemporal gradients.”
These medical interventions are designed to replicate the code signals that initiate a stable cell mass that would operate as a blastema, which is a mass of cells capable of growth and regeneration into body parts.
Research so far done into mice have revealed that compelling insight of implementing “solubilized extra-cellular matrices, bone morphogenetic proteins and matrix metalloprotienases, generated by immune cells, in promoting recruitment/mobilization of endogenous cells to proliferate at the transected bone front.”
In addition, how the injury responds can be influenced with external bioreactors. This can be used to control parameters that would involve hydration, oxygen concentration, electrical stimulation and pH.
According to John P. Fisher, PhD, who is Professor and Associate Chair Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, stated:
“There is a critical need to develop engineered tissues with complex physiologies, such as a complete limb, and the paper by Quijano and colleagues identifies some of the key components required for these developments.”
The above paper ‘Tissue Engineering, Part B, Reviews’ is available for download until March 08, 2016.
One of the scientists involved with this research was Dr Stephen Badylak of the McCowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine.
I wrote an article about some of his research into Extracellular Matrix that is in abundance from Pig’s Bladder. That is being used for the regeneration of lost finger tips where some of the nail bed is still present, along with a variety of other treatments such as limb salvaging techniques and medical scaffolding.
Conclusion
So things are progressing along and I expect to see some new potential treatments for those whom have lost digits in the near future. Certainly it cannot happen soon enough for those whom have life changing injuries but I would not be writing and developing this blog if amazing new potential treatments were never going to materialize.
This kind of research is not only going to benefit humans whom have lost limbs but also for humanity in longevity and for people needing organ replacements.
I have read scientist saying that the creation of a new heart based on one’s own stem cells, would be 50 years or decades away, but now it may be as little as 10 years.
The future is indeed looking bright and we should all be looking forward to the 2020s as a bright new future.
What are your thoughts on this? I would love to hear your opinions and reflections on this research.
I have lost my right foot. I am a below the knee amputee. I am very interested in your research. You can use me for your research. I don’t mind being a guinea pig.
Hi June,
Thank you for your comment. I fully appreciate and understand that you would be open for new novel trial treatments to counter your injury. What amputee would not be?
At the moment I understand that new treatments may be available for those whom have lost more beyond the nail and first digit of fingers and toes. But regeneration of a new hand or foot is not available – at least not yet. That will happen eventually but not sure when.
I have to give a disclaimer at this point, as not to give false promises. Since this can add damage to the patient psychology and emotionally from what they have already suffered.
There is not enough data just yet of how things will develop in this research of limb regeneration. What I can say is that all the research I have done so far is extremely encouraging, including the most recent article on Newts with scientists understanding the mechanism and how it will eventually be applied to human tissue regeneration.
What I recommend you do at the moment, June, is perhaps subscribe to my free newsletter, that I have just recently added to this website. If you are interested, there is a sign up form on the right hand side bar to subscribe to my newsletter.
This will be a good way to keep update on any new developments and any potential trials that might become available in the near future.
Also if there is any other questions I can help you with, please feel free to ask here or contact me privately.
Take care and keep in touch.
Thanks,
Alexander.
I was just wondering if there was any links or information on the treatments for amputated fingers and toes you referred to? I myself lost to just below the nail bed on my middle finger and was wondering if there was someone or someplace to contact about this?
Hi Ken,
Thank you for your comment and question. If some of the nail bed is still there then it is possible to regenerative, BUT it depends of the injury and what the doctor or clinician thinks. If the nail bed is completely lost then at the moment it is not possible.
I am not a scientist or clinician so I cannot advise. I am a researcher and commentator on this topic.
What I suggest you do is contact the following site, of Dr. Steven Babylak Regenerative Medicine Institute, they are on the forefront in this field and do a lot of research for the military. These people I understand are the ones whom came up with the ECM technology that they are researching into.
Useful Links and background of their research:
Stephen Badylak Laboratory
Some background into their Limb and Digit regeneration research:
Limb and Digit Regeneration
This is the page to make contact with them and they do clinical trials, so they would review the injury see if they can help, make sure you give them as much information as possible including X-rays.
Their contact Page:
Questions about our Clinical Trials?
Best of luck and do let me know what happens.
Thanks,
Alexander.
Dear, Alexander!
Responding to your question. I contacted 2 medical centres. One of them is Wake Forest University. They are one of the leading medical centres in regenerative medicine. The other centre is university of Pittsburg. Stephen Badylak Laboratory answered that they may continue the study of older injuries, so someday they can regrow even then nail bed. I, myself have the same injury as Ken, so can’t wait for the new discovery.
If you are interested here are some links about regenerative medicine:
http://www.mcgowan.pitt.edu
http://www.regenerativemedicine.net
Hi Kitty,
Thank you for your response and for those links. Its wonderful that you did your research as those sources I agree are the best there is in the field of regenerative medicine as you mentioned. Dr. Badylak I’m a fan of and his research is amazing, and one of the links I gave to Ken above.
Wake Forest University I’ve been meaning to do an article and will do over the next few months about Anthony Atala, M.D and his amazing research. Watching his presentations on Youtube is highly recommended.
You reminded me of creating a page that lists all those kind of sources, including the ones you mentioned. I was also thinking of creating a forum where people can connect and mingle with each other and sharing information.
I am sorry about your injury and I hope one day there will be new novel treatments for you and others. The purpose of this website was intended for you and others whom have had life changing injuries, with the aim of awareness and inspiration, along with the hope that the holy grail of limb regeneration will occur in our lifetimes.
Considering the advances in science in the field of regenerative medicine today, I am sure some breakthroughs will have occurred by 2030.
This seems like a bold statement to make but here is one such article, if your interested, I wrote about a New Initiative To Regrow Human Limbs By 2030, where scientists were aiming to do just that. I am currently writing up a follow up article to this and Dr Cato T. Laurencin’s work is impressive.
Thank you Kitty for your immediate response and thanks for those links, keep in touch.
Thank you,
Alexander.
I contacted a few medical centres and the technology isn’t possible yet. One medical centre wrote back that it’s in the experimental stage. So, there is some hope in the future.
Hi Kitty,
Thank you for responding to Ken’s question and for being it to my attention. You are right it is not possible at the moment to regenerate a finger lost below the nail bed. Even if some of the nail bed is present it all depends on the injury and if they think such new kinds of treatments can help.
I have replied to Ken’s questions above where people like him can get more information with people whom specialize in this area.
What kinds of medical centres did you contact? Was it those whom specialize in this area or just general? I think it all depend on whom you speak to and if they are focused in this area.
I know that generally they will say its not possible right now including even if some of the nail bed is still in tacked. This will be due to lack of awareness of what other specialists are doing in this field and at the moment may be be not allowed as it is still experimental and in trial stage. This will mean that its not officially medically proven.
Indeed there is hope and according to one scientist in the following article about regrowing a new arm. He used the words that its not possible right now but ‘we will in 10 years’.
Article:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24132739
So I guess we will have to wait and see. Once again thanks for helping Ken out.
Thanks,
Alexander.
will i have a chance of regaining three toes cut from left foot at my age 60 maybe even a partial growth of a residual on my right leg, i am very hopeful for those with limbs lost who are under 45 years old
Hi Pat,
I am not aware of medical science being advanced enough to regenerate entire toes. The exception is if some of the nail bed is still intact. But this means that only the tips of the finger or toes were lost. In this case they could use ECM (extracellular matrix) which is taken from Pigs Bladder.
There are new advancements coming that will provide new kinds of treatments available for those whom have lost more of the digit beyond the nail. But not sure when those advancements will be available.
Can you describe more about your injury?
Thanks,
Alexander.
did you recieve my march 18 email
Hi Pat,
I received an email from someone on that date with another name and coming from a different IP address. I did reply but their email bounced. Sometimes people send me messages but don’t leave a valid email address on the contact form.
If you are referring to your comment on this website on this post below. I have replied to it. Could you give more information of your injury of your toes?
At the moment it is not possible to stimulate regeneration beyond the nail bed and first digit. But I have heard new advances in science will be coming along eventually providing new kinds of treatments for people with those sorts of injuries. That doesn’t mean that complete regrowth of a limb will be possible, at least not yet, but eventually that will happen.
When it will happen is very difficult to say as there is not enough data and there are many variables, such as how many people are working on a problem, to understanding road blocks to the problem and how much funding can be put into the research.
Thanks,
Alexander.
Hi, I am an mechanical engineering student who is just enthusiastic about limb regeneration and I am entering a competition and plans to present about limb regeneration. I have been reading about your articles and find it really helpful, but I also have some questions in mind hopefully you could answer them, that will be a great help.
Do humans have the gene to dedifferentiate their cells?
How the body know which part of the body is missing and know when to stop regenerating?
What is that latest breakthrough in research of this field?
Until now the most human can regenerate is the tip of their finger (if the nail bed is till there) what makes you think limb regeneration can be achieved in 10 years?
what are the challengers faced to regrow a limb?
Hi Annecia,
Thank you for visiting my website and that the articles on new kinds of limb regeneration research being done by scientists is helpful for you.
My understanding is, there are genes that can be artificially dedifferentiate in human cells. The article I did with Newt Limb Regeneration and highlights some of this with SMFCs and how they expect it to translate it into mammalian tissue regeneration.
Also I recommend the following research paper on Human cell dedifferentiation
How does the body part know to regenerate and when to stop? This would lie in the Blastema which has the specific instructions which is what happening with salamanders and newts. But this is still a grey area and why there are researching greatly into this. It appears to be default mechanism and by changing the default process in humans from scarring into regeneration is what is being worked in with scientists.
I am writing up a new article on a new kind of stem cell technologies that has just been published providing a salamander like regeneration in human tissues. I’ll post it here when its available but this I would suggest is a major breakthrough with trials in regenerating some tissues in humans starting in 2017.
Some scientists feel it could be possible to regrow an arm for example in 10 years but there are also those whom disagree. It really is too early to say for sure but I am certain that some form of human regeneration methods will be available around that time. Certainly their aim is to do this by the next 10 to 15 years. See the following article on this research project of human limb regeneration by 2030.
Let me know if I can help you further in anyway.
This seems incredibly narrow sighted. Salamanders can regenerate their hearts in less than 1 day and the human body is probably capable of regeneration if only the research is taken seriously and funded.
Read “The Body Electric“… written 40 years ago!! Becker started publishing his research on regeneration much earlier but skepticism (and possibly big pharma) have kept this on the sidelines. We should be a lot further than we are on this and I fear our medical and scientific communities are stuck in the “pill and surgery” mindset…. Afterall, where’s the profit in self-healing?
I think the research (as with any research) that pushes forward to realize the goal of human limb regeneration and organs along with other realms of regeneration is all equally important.
I agree that Dr. Robert O. Becker’s research into the electric body is important and has been largely ignored. Some scientists argue that part of the reason it has been ignored is there was not any valid research that confirmed evidence that electric aspect contributed to regeneration.
However, as I wrote up about in the article on the Regeneration of organs and limbs with BioElectricity scientists are now taking this area of research and what Becker did with more interest. One scientist in Scotland is convinced that it plays an important element. It is not the only area but an important area that needs to be understood. She is also convinced Limb Regeneration will happen in our lifetimes.
Hello Alexander
I have lost my inferior nasal turbinate during sinus surgery. Can I regenerate the whole turbinate ? Is the treatment avilable now? When unsw’s Ims stem cell therapy avilable? I want to take part in trail.
My husband was a lineman ang got electrocuted and lost both arms . One from the shoulder down. The other just 7 inches below the shoulder is left. Can you please contact us?
As a bilateral transfemoral amputee, reading this article gives me hope of being able to someday play with my kids again. As noted in several previous comments I would be happy to volunteer to aid this research and development in any way I am able. Just please don’t stop or abandon your goals they mean to much to too many people.
Hi Cole,
Thank you for your comments. To be a volunteer for clinic trials one would need to make an informed decision. I cannot give advice as you would need to consult with a qualified Medical Consultant or best with your Doctor.
I have provided some information below so you can read up about how one may go about getting involved with a clinical trial.
Volunteering for a Clinical Trial
https://www.centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/volunteering.aspx
Finding and Joining The Right Clinical Trial
https://www.findmecure.com/
Below are links to the McGowan Institute For Regenerative Medicine. They conduct clinical trials and work on different projects, so you could contact them to discuss.
Contact Page
http://www.mirm.pitt.edu/badylak/contactus.asp
Research Projects
http://www.mirm.pitt.edu/badylak/projects.asp
I hope the above helps with a starting point.
Regards,
Alexander.
Hello Dr.Alexander,
Your site is very interesting and encouraging!!
My left leg has been amputated just above the knee due to an accident. The leg was there with fractures after the accident. Doctors amputated it during treatment.
Can you please let me know when treatments are available to regenerate my leg.
Thanks!
Thank you for your comments! I am sorry to hear about your injury and the amputation.
Limb Regeneration for humans is not yet possible at the moment but an increasing number of scientists such as Dr. Levin who specializes in this research feel it will occur in our lifetimes. He is one of the leading lights in this field and I highly recommend you read up about his latest research on the wearable Bioreactor Device they build to regenerate frogs legs that were previously amputated.
You will certainly know about it when new advances occur on this blog. Indeed the whole world will know about such an astonishing breakthrough in medical science.
When this happens nothing and no-one will be the same again. This is why I created this website to mark such a powerful moment of Singularity that will change the History of Humanity forever.
Can i volunteer somewhere to try and get my ring finger tip back?
Hi Wes,
Thank you for your comment and question. I set up a page on FAQs to address this very question about clinical trials in advance medical science and emerging new technologies.
It depends where you are based but I recommend you get in touch with Dr. Badylak at his research laboratory in the USA.
Use their Contact Form to get in touch with them to see if they can help. It might be possible you can be involved with their clinical trials.
Here are some of their research projects they are doing which includes research into digit and limb regeneration.
Good luck! And let me know how it goes.
Thanks,
Alexander.
Thanks for sharing your ideas!