Adult mammalian wounds, with rare exception, heal with fibrotic scars that severely disrupt tissue architecture and function. Regenerative medicine seeks methods to avoid scar formation and restore the original tissue structures. We show in three adult mouse models that pharmacologic activation of the nociceptor TRPA1 on cutaneous sensory neurons reduces scar formation and can also promote tissue regeneration. Local activation of TRPA1 induces tissue regeneration on distant untreated areas of injury, demonstrating a systemic effect. Activated TRPA1 stimulates local production of interleukin-23 (IL-23) by dermal dendritic cells, leading to activation of circulating dermal IL-17–producing γδ T cells. Genetic ablation of TRPA1, IL-23, dermal dendritic cells, or γδ T cells prevents TRPA1-mediated tissue regeneration. These results reveal a cutaneous neuroimmune-regeneration cascade triggered by topical TRPA1 activators that promotes adult mammalian tissue regeneration, presenting a new avenue for research and development of therapies for wounds and scars.

除了极少数例外，成年哺乳动物的伤口会随着严重破坏组织结构和功能的纤维化疤痕愈合。再生医学寻求避免疤痕形成和恢复原始组织结构的方法。我们在三个成年小鼠模型中表明，皮肤感觉神经元上伤害感受器 TRPA1 的药理学激活减少了疤痕形成，也可以促进组织再生。TRPA1 的局部激活诱导远处未治疗损伤区域的组织再生，显示出全身效应。激活的 TRPA1 刺激真皮树突细胞局部产生白细胞介素 23 (IL-23)，导致循环真皮 IL-17 产生 γδ T 细胞的激活。TRPA1、IL-23、真皮树突细胞或γδ T 细胞的遗传消融会阻止TRPA1 介导的组织再生。