Macrophage Recruitment Contributes to Regeneration of Mechanosensory Hair Cells in the Zebrafish Lateral Line.

In vertebrates, damage to mechanosensory hair cells elicits an inflammatory response, including rapid recruitment of macrophages and neutrophils. While hair cells in amniotes usually become permanently lost, they readily regenerate in lower vertebrates such as fish. Damage to hair cells of the fish lateral line is followed by inflammation and rapid regeneration; however the role of immune cells in this process remains unknown.