System-level immune and regenerative pathways

System-level immune and regenerative pathways refer to the integrated biological networks that coordinate the immune system's response to injury with the subsequent processes of tissue repair and regeneration (Nature Reviews Immunology, 2018). This concept highlights the essential crosstalk between immune cells, such as macrophages and T-cells, and tissue-resident stem cells, which is mediated by a complex milieu of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors (Science, 2017). While these pathways are vital for maintaining physiological homeostasis and recovering from trauma, their chronic activation or imbalance is central to the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders, chronic fibrosis, and the development of a pro-tumorigenic niche (Cell, 2019). Because this term describes a broad physiological system or a collection of signaling cascades rather than a single molecular entity like a receptor or enzyme, it is not classified as a discrete therapeutic target. Instead, pharmacological strategies typically focus on modulating specific nodes within these pathways, such as the JAK/STAT or TGF-beta signaling axes, to restore the balance between inflammation and repair (PubMed, 2021).

Other names

Immune-regenerative axisImmune-mediated tissue repairImmune-stem cell crosstalk

Modulation of integrated signaling networks, such as the JAK/STAT, TGF-beta, and Wnt pathways, to balance pro-inflammatory and pro-repair cellular activities.