The ability of salamanders to regrow limbs could eventually help with human limb regeneration, according to the latest research.

The amphibians’ immune systems are the key to the trait, which allows them to regrow limbs as well as regenerate spinal cords, brain tissue and even parts of their heart. …

Dr Godwin said: ‘Previously, we thought that macrophages were negative for regeneration, and this research shows that that’s not the case – if the macrophages are not present in the early phases of healing, regeneration does not occur.’

‘Now, we need to find out exactly how these macrophages are contributing to regeneration. Down the road, this could lead to therapies that tweak the human immune system down a more regenerative pathway.’