Scientists Discover Cells That Cheat Death and Rebuild Damaged Tissue

Weizmann Institute researchers described compensatory proliferation: caspases, which usually trigger cell death, help some cells survive radiation and restore up to half of damaged tissue within 48 hours. The finding also explains cancer recurrence after therapy.

• DARE cells found: caspase activates but cell survives
• DARE cells restored nearly half of tissue in 48 hours
• Without DARE cells, compensatory proliferation disappears completely
• Same mechanism may help cancer cells evade death