# Beyond ER Stress: The Pleiotropic Roles of XBP1 in Development and Regeneration

## TL;DR

This review explores how XBP1, a key protein, influences development and tissue regeneration beyond its known role in stress response, highlighting its potential for new therapies.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of XBP1's diverse roles in development and regeneration, emphasizing its therapeutic potential.

## Key findings

- XBP1 regulates biological processes from embryogenesis to adult tissue homeostasis.
- XBP1 shows therapeutic potential for regenerating skeletal muscle, skin, and bone.
- Future research should focus on the IRE1α/XBP1 signaling axis and its long-term safety.

## Abstract

This review synthesizes current knowledge on the roles of X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) in development and regenerative medicine. XBP1 is defined as a key transcription factor that regulates biological processes from embryogenesis to adult tissue homeostasis via both endoplasmic reticulum(ER) stress-dependent and independent mechanisms. Evidence for its regulatory role in cell fate determination and tissue maintenance across multiple systems is presented. The therapeutic potential of targeting XBP1 is explored, particularly for the regeneration of skeletal muscle, skin, and bone. Critical future research priorities are outlined, such as deciphering the precise functions of the Inositol requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1α)/XBP1 signaling axis and evaluating the long-term safety of its modulation. XBP1 is thus confirmed as a prime target for advancing developmental biology and pioneering new regenerative therapies.