The Role of Macrophages in Controlling the Adaptive Response to Injury: Regeneration Vs. Scarring

Abstract

This chapter will cover the apparent role macrophages play in orchestrating the adaptive response to injury. The chapter will first explore the differences in adaptive response to injury for fetal vs. adult wound healing. In addition, the differences in adaptive response between animals that regenerate vs. ones that heal more by scarring. This information will be used to propose a theory of how to control the adaptive response by controlling the macrophages response. Part of this theory will be what is the evolutionary change in macrophages that tips the scale between regeneration and scarring as well as what is different about the response of macrophages in fetal vs. adult wound healing. The body responds to changes (stimuli) with an adaptive response. Additional stimuli can be added to an injury to alter the response of macrophages to effect the overall adaptive response. The theory developed helped to explain why specific strategies to control the adaptive response are successful.