The specific molecular and cellular signals that initiate, guide, and terminate the complex cascade of events necessary for the restoration of damaged or aged biological structures. These directives are comprised of growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and hormones that coordinate the migration of immune cells, the proliferation of progenitor cells, and the synthesis of new extracellular matrix. They represent the body’s intrinsic, coded instructions for self-healing and maintenance.
Origin
This term is a conceptual descriptor from regenerative medicine and wound healing science, using a command-and-control metaphor to describe the body’s repair system. “Tissue Repair” defines the physiological process, and “Directives” emphasizes the instructional nature of the chemical messengers involved. The concept underscores the highly regulated nature of the healing process.
Mechanism
The directives are primarily executed through the localized release of signaling molecules from damaged cells and infiltrating immune cells, such as macrophages. Growth factors, like Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF), instruct cells to proliferate and form new blood vessels. Furthermore, key hormones, including thyroid hormone and testosterone, act systemically to provide the metabolic and anabolic support necessary to execute the cellular and molecular repair instructions efficiently and completely.
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