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The contribution of deer velvet antler research to the modern biological medicine

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Abstract

Deer velvet antler is the only mammal organ which can continuous regenerate. Currently, international scholars are interested in antler that is defined as a perfect regeneration model of neuro, blood vessel, connective tissue, cartilage, and bones. In 1986, we started to study the separation of active protein and peptide of fresh velvet antler using classic biochemical methods. After entering the 21st century, we further investigated the differentiation of antler proteome from different growth periods using advance differential proteomics approach, and unveiled the correlation between the proteome difference and life cycle. The international antler research has entered the stage of molecular biology, and will no doubt have a profound impact on the modern biomedical fields, such as regenerative medicine, organ degeneration and dysplasia, trauma medicine and anti-inflammatory treatment, growth factor research, as well as creation of new medical thinking.

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Correspondence to Yu-shu Huo  (霍玉书).

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Huo, Ys., Huo, H. & Zhang, J. The contribution of deer velvet antler research to the modern biological medicine. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 20, 723–728 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-014-1827-1

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