Humanity has taken another step toward what once seemed like science fiction. At Texas A&M University, researchers found a protein that may be able to trigger the growth of new joints in mammals — including cartilage, ligaments and tendons. The protein, known as FGF8, proved to be the key to regenerating tissues that had long been considered “irreversible.”
In experiments, only FGF8 out of all the proteins tested induced the formation of a complete joint structure. The protein affects cells that usually form scar tissue and prompts them to create the complex tissues needed for the joint system.
The next step is to find out which additional factors can strengthen the effect of FGF8 and make it possible to use it to regenerate other parts of limbs, as well as across different ages. If everything goes according to plan, we will have real medical technologies that can return lost parts of the human body — precisely and carefully.
