Jump-starting IFN-I responses and epithelial regeneration

Innate immune signaling is important for tissue regeneration. In this issue of Science Signaling , Cinat et al . report that a cell-intrinsic type I interferon (IFN-I) response drives salivary gland organoid regeneration after radiation and that proton irradiation induces a stronger regenerative response than photon irradiation because it amplifies the IFN-I response.