The Translational Science of the Emerging Field of Regenerative Medicine in Large Animals

摘要

The field of regenerative medicine is defined as the "process of replacing or regenerating cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal function."1 This broad field of medicine has gained significant momentum in human and veterinary medicine, thanks to the notion that damaged organs or tissues treated with stem cells can be restored to health, thus improving the quality of life of people and domestic animals. An important clarification should be made in order to specifically define products used with the intent of regenerating tissue. In veterinary medicine, the last decade has seen the application of a plethora of treatments that have been broadly and hastily encompassed within the field of regenerative medicine. It may be more appropriate to consider these treatments as biological therapies, given that not all of the products that are used in domestic animals are necessarily meant to regenerate cells or tissue. This is an important clarification to make, especially because the generalpublic has erroneously encompassed any treatment that is biological in nature as tissue regenerating. It is the responsibility of researchers and clinicians to correctly explain and define the use of these treatment options so that the expectations and,in some cases, ethical concerns of the general public are adequately satisfied.