Midkine as a context-dependent molecular rheostat in tissue regeneration and aging
Midkine (MDK) is a dynamic molecular rheostat that operates differently depending on tissue context. It is widely induced after injury across multiple systems, including cardiovascular, neural, musculoskeletal, liver, and kidneys, yet its regulation often becomes disrupted with aging. MDK is also linked to fibrosis, immune aging, and tumor development. In this review, we discuss MDK effects in three tissue injury models and emerging therapeutic approaches to leverage MDK’s rheostat function.
Authors
- Kye Siong Leong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6612-5542)
- Damien Chua (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0007-1688)
- Nguan Soon Tan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0136-7341)
- Lynn Yap (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8206-9148)
Institutions
- Nanyang Technological University (SG)
- National Heart Centre Singapore (SG)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Regenerative Medicine
- Published
- 2026-10-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41536-026-00517-3
- Primary Topic
- Nerve injury and regeneration
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Research Foundation Singapore
- Ministry of Education - Singapore
- National Medical Research Council