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Identification of regenerative roadblocks via repeat deployment of limb regeneration in axolotls

Bryant, Donald M ; Sousounis, Konstantinos ; Payzin-Dogru, Duygu ; Bryant, Sevara ; Sandoval, Aaron Gabriel W ; Martinez Fernandez, Jose ; Mariano, Rachelle ; Oshiro, Rachel ; Wong, Alan Y and Leigh, Nicholas D LU orcid , et al. (2017) In Regenerative Medicine 2.
Abstract

Axolotl salamanders are powerful models for understanding how regeneration of complex body parts can be achieved, whereas mammals are severely limited in this ability. Factors that promote normal axolotl regeneration can be examined in mammals to determine if they exhibit altered activity in this context. Furthermore, factors prohibiting axolotl regeneration can offer key insight into the mechanisms present in regeneration-incompetent species. We sought to determine if we could experimentally compromise the axolotl's ability to regenerate limbs and, if so, discover the molecular changes that might underlie their inability to regenerate. We found that repeated limb amputation severely compromised axolotls' ability to initiate limb... (More)

Axolotl salamanders are powerful models for understanding how regeneration of complex body parts can be achieved, whereas mammals are severely limited in this ability. Factors that promote normal axolotl regeneration can be examined in mammals to determine if they exhibit altered activity in this context. Furthermore, factors prohibiting axolotl regeneration can offer key insight into the mechanisms present in regeneration-incompetent species. We sought to determine if we could experimentally compromise the axolotl's ability to regenerate limbs and, if so, discover the molecular changes that might underlie their inability to regenerate. We found that repeated limb amputation severely compromised axolotls' ability to initiate limb regeneration. Using RNA-seq, we observed that a majority of differentially expressed transcripts were hyperactivated in limbs compromised by repeated amputation, suggesting that mis-regulation of these genes antagonizes regeneration. To confirm our findings, we additionally assayed the role of amphiregulin, an EGF-like ligand, which is aberrantly upregulated in compromised animals. During normal limb regeneration, amphiregulin is expressed by the early wound epidermis, and mis-expressing this factor lead to thickened wound epithelium, delayed initiation of regeneration, and severe regenerative defects. Collectively, our results suggest that repeatedly amputated limbs may undergo a persistent wound healing response, which interferes with their ability to initiate the regenerative program. These findings have important implications for human regenerative medicine.

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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Regenerative Medicine
volume
2
article number
30
publisher
Future Medicine Ltd.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85048944458
  • pmid:29302364
ISSN
1746-0751
DOI
10.1038/s41536-017-0034-z
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
7984a3f0-3bf6-48ac-961b-4504b3d7565b
date added to LUP
2020-04-27 21:06:15
date last changed
2024-02-16 15:09:45
@article{7984a3f0-3bf6-48ac-961b-4504b3d7565b,
  abstract     = {{<p>Axolotl salamanders are powerful models for understanding how regeneration of complex body parts can be achieved, whereas mammals are severely limited in this ability. Factors that promote normal axolotl regeneration can be examined in mammals to determine if they exhibit altered activity in this context. Furthermore, factors prohibiting axolotl regeneration can offer key insight into the mechanisms present in regeneration-incompetent species. We sought to determine if we could experimentally compromise the axolotl's ability to regenerate limbs and, if so, discover the molecular changes that might underlie their inability to regenerate. We found that repeated limb amputation severely compromised axolotls' ability to initiate limb regeneration. Using RNA-seq, we observed that a majority of differentially expressed transcripts were hyperactivated in limbs compromised by repeated amputation, suggesting that mis-regulation of these genes antagonizes regeneration. To confirm our findings, we additionally assayed the role of amphiregulin, an EGF-like ligand, which is aberrantly upregulated in compromised animals. During normal limb regeneration, amphiregulin is expressed by the early wound epidermis, and mis-expressing this factor lead to thickened wound epithelium, delayed initiation of regeneration, and severe regenerative defects. Collectively, our results suggest that repeatedly amputated limbs may undergo a persistent wound healing response, which interferes with their ability to initiate the regenerative program. These findings have important implications for human regenerative medicine.</p>}},
  author       = {{Bryant, Donald M and Sousounis, Konstantinos and Payzin-Dogru, Duygu and Bryant, Sevara and Sandoval, Aaron Gabriel W and Martinez Fernandez, Jose and Mariano, Rachelle and Oshiro, Rachel and Wong, Alan Y and Leigh, Nicholas D and Johnson, Kimberly and Whited, Jessica L}},
  issn         = {{1746-0751}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  publisher    = {{Future Medicine Ltd.}},
  series       = {{Regenerative Medicine}},
  title        = {{Identification of regenerative roadblocks via repeat deployment of limb regeneration in axolotls}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41536-017-0034-z}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41536-017-0034-z}},
  volume       = {{2}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}