Expression of Piwi, MMP, TIMP, and Sox during Gut Regeneration in Holothurian Eupentacta fraudatrix (Holothuroidea, Dendrochirotida).

Igor Yu Dolmatov,Alexey V Boyko,Eugenia G Zavalnaya,Ekaterina V Shamshurina,Marina G Eliseikina,Alexander S Girich,Nadezhda V Kalacheva,Ekaterina S Tkacheva,Alena P Shulga

doi:10.3390/genes12081292

Abstract

Mesodermal cells of holothurian Eupentacta fraudatrix can transdifferentiate into enterocytes during the regeneration of the digestive system. In this study, we investigated the expression of several genes involved in gut regeneration in E. fraudatrix. Moreover, the localization of progenitor cells of coelomocytes, juvenile cells, and their participation in the formation of the luminal epithelium of the digestive tube were studied. It was shown that Piwi-positive cells were not involved in the formation of the luminal epithelium of the digestive tube. Ef-72 kDa type IV collagenase and Ef-MMP16 had an individual expression profile and possibly different functions. The Ef-tensilin3 gene exhibited the highest expression and indicates its potential role in regeneration. Ef-Sox9/10 and Ef-Sox17 in E. fraudatrix may participate in the mechanism of transdifferentiation of coelomic epithelial cells. Their transcripts mark the cells that plunge into the connective tissue of the gut anlage and give rise to enterocytes. Ef-Sox9/10 probably controls the switching of mesodermal cells to the enterocyte phenotype, while Ef-Sox17 may be involved in the regulation of the initial stages of transdifferentiation.

Highlights

Echinoderms are known for their good regenerative abilities
In the transcriptome of E. fraudatrix, a transcript was found that had a high degree of identity with the Piwi mRNA of A. japonicus
Our research has shown that the genes Ef-Sox9/10 and Ef-Sox17 may participate in regulation of the digestive system regeneration in holothurians

Summary

Introduction

Echinoderms are known for their good regenerative abilities They can regenerate both appendages (arms, tentacles, and tube feet) and internal organs [1,2]. The presence of stem cells, with the exception of progenitor cells of coelomocytes [10,11] and primordial germ cells, has not been established by morphological methods [12,13] In this regard, attempts are being made to detect echinoderm stem/progenitor cells using molecular markers. The expression of orthologs of genes Lgr and Bmi and Yamanaka factors (Oct, KLF4, Sox, and myc) was studied [14,15]. All of these genes, with the exception of myc, showed no significant activity in the regeneration of internal organs. In holothurians, Myc is assumed to facilitate cell dedifferentiation and trigger programmed cell death [16]

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Conclusion