Scientists at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences have successfully regenerated skeletal and connective tissue in mammals, marking a major step forward in regenerative medicine and limb repair research.
The study, published in Nature Communications, demonstrated that mammals may still possess the biological ability to regenerate lost tissue, although the process is normally hidden behind the body’s scar-forming response.
Researchers led by Ken Muneoka developed a two-step treatment that stimulated the regrowth of bone, ligaments, tendons, and joint structures after injury.
While the regenerated tissue was not perfectly formed, scientists said the experiment successfully restored all major structures removed during amputation.
The research focused on fibroblast cells, which normally create scar tissue after injuries in mammals. In animals such as salamanders, similar cells instead form a “blastema,” a structure that enables full limb regeneration.
To redirect the healing response, researchers first applied fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) after wound closure to encourage blastema-like cell formation.
Several days later, they introduced bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), which guided the cells to rebuild tissue structures.
According to the researchers, the findings challenge long-standing assumptions that mammals completely lack regenerative abilities.
Larry Suva, who contributed to the study, said the work shows that cells previously considered “unprogrammable” can, in fact, be redirected toward regeneration.
The study also found that regeneration does not necessarily require external stem cell transplants, as the body may already contain the necessary cells for tissue repair.
Researchers believe the discovery could initially help reduce scarring and improve wound healing in humans before eventually contributing to more advanced regenerative treatments.
Because BMP2 is already approved for certain medical uses by the US Food and Drug Administration, while FGF2 is being studied in clinical trials, scientists say the pathway toward future human applications may be more accessible.
The study, titled “Digit regeneration in mice is stimulated by sequential treatment with FGF2 and BMP2,” was published on April 17, 2026.
