title: Axolotl as a Model to Study Scarless Wound Healing in Vertebrates: Role of the Transforming Growth Factor Beta Signaling Pathway.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  The skin is our largest organ, with the primary role of protection against assaults from the outside world. It also suffers frequent damage, from minor scrapes to, more rarely, complete destruction such as in third-degree burns. It is therefore, by its nature, an organ that would benefit tremendously from being able to regenerate itself.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This review highlights the axolotl, a less well-known model organism capable of scarless wound healing and regeneration. Axolotls are salamanders with unsurpassed healing and regenerative capacities. Understanding how these animals can regenerate their tissues could help identify the pathways that need to be activated or inhibited in humans to improve wound healing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Presently, there are no therapies leading to skin regeneration or scarless wound healing. Various animal models have thus been developed for use in research, such as mice and pigs, to help us understand how wound healing could be improved or stimulated. However, these more common models cannot regenerate and, consequently, cannot direct us toward a solution to regenerate damaged tissues. Axolotls, on the other hand, can regenerate perfectly and therefore may offer avenues to identify molecular targets for therapeutic intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Identifying signaling pathways regulating tissue regeneration in vertebrate models is important. The use of animals such as axolotls, which hold the secret of full regeneration, will likely play a significant role in helping us achieve scarless wound healing for humans.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, McGill University , Montreal, Canada .
authors: Jean-François
authors: JF
authors: Denis
authors: Department of Biochemistry, McGill University , Montreal, Canada .
authors: Mathieu
authors: M
authors: Lévesque
authors: Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University , Montreal, Canada .
authors: Simon D
authors: SD
authors: Tran
authors: Department of Stomatology, University of Montreal , Montreal, Canada .
authors: Aldo-Joseph
authors: AJ
authors: Camarda
authors: Department of Biochemistry, McGill University , Montreal, Canada . ; Department of Stomatology, University of Montreal , Montreal, Canada .
authors: Stéphane
authors: S
authors: Roy