Abstract
The ability of axolotls to regenerate their limbs is almost legendary. In fact, urodeles such as the axolotl are the only vertebrates that can regenerate multiple structures like their limbs, jaws, tail, spinal cord, and skin (the list goes on) throughout their lives. It is therefore surprising to realize, although we have known of their regenerative potential for over 200 years, how little we understand the mechanisms behind this achievement of adult tissue morphogenesis. Many observations can be drawn between regeneration and other disciplines such as development and wound healing. In this review, we present new developments in functional analysis that will help to address the role of specific genes during the process of regeneration. We also present an analysis of the resemblance between wound healing and regeneration, and discuss whether axolotls are superhealers. A better understanding of these animals' regenerative capacity could lead to major benefits by providing regenerative medicine with directions on how to develop therapeutic approaches leading to regeneration in humans.
Highlights
Regenerative medicine is an emerging field of medical research that promises to unlock the secrets of how the body can regenerate itself
One of the main approaches to mammalian regenerative medicine is the isolation of stem cells, followed by manipulations that are aimed at directing their differentiation towards the morphogenesis of complex structures[1]
Fgf-8, on the other hand, does display a pattern of expression during regeneration that correlates more, not perfectly, with the model of regeneration by intercalation. It is up-regulated at medium and late bud stages, which represent the beginning of the redevelopment phase, and is down-regulated at palette when the morphogenesis of the fingers becomes apparent, which is similar to the expression pattern observed during axolotl limb development[33]
Summary
Regenerative medicine is an emerging field of medical research that promises to unlock the secrets of how the body can regenerate itself. Fgf-8, on the other hand, does display a pattern of expression during regeneration that correlates more, not perfectly, with the model of regeneration by intercalation It is up-regulated at medium and late bud stages, which represent the beginning of the redevelopment phase, and is down-regulated at palette when the morphogenesis of the fingers becomes apparent, which is similar to the expression pattern observed during axolotl limb development[33]. These interactions are essential for the development of multiple structures (e.g., teeth, limbs, kidneys, lungs) in vertebrates[38,39,40,41,42,43,44] It seems that in the regenerating limb, nerves are important mediators of these epithelial/mesenchymal interactions that occur between the blastema cells and the AEC[5,18]. Additional studies will be necessary to better understand the requirement of nerves and the epithelial/mesenchymal interactions and to identify the genes responsible for mediating these interactions in the context of regeneration
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