Attenuated foreign body response to subcutaneous implant in regenerative spiny mice (Acomys)

Abstract

Spiny mice (Acomys) can regenerate after injury with minimal fibrosis. Whether Acomys retains the fibrosis-free feature in response to implanted devices is unknown, so we implanted polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) subcutaneously in Acomys and Mus, a non-regenerative counterpart. In Acomys, we found reduced myeloid cell infiltration, fibroblast activation, and collagen deposition around the PDMS implant. These results suggest that Acomys can regulate FBR and may hold the key to improving implant lifetime and functionality.