Abstract
Survival of any living organism critically depends on its ability to repair and regenerate damaged tissues and/or organs during its lifetime following injury, disease, or aging. Various animal models from invertebrates to vertebrates have been used to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of wound healing and tissue regeneration. It is hoped that such studies will form the framework for identifying novel clinical treatments that will improve the healing and regenerative capacity of humans. Amongst these models, Xenopus stands out as a particularly versatile and powerful system. This review summarizes recent findings using this model, which have provided fundamental knowledge of the mechanisms responsible for efficient and perfect tissue repair and regeneration.
Highlights
A prominent question in biomedical research is how organisms respond to injuries and restore the morphological and functional integrity of tissues and organs, ensuring their survival
Amongst the various model systems that have been exploited for investigating the mechanisms of scar-free healing and appendage regeneration is the anuran amphibian Xenopus laevis and its diploid relative Xenopus tropicalis
Very little is known about the mechanisms that drive the propagation of Ca2+ signaling across the epithelium, a recent finding showed that inositoltrisphosphate 3-kinase B (Itpkb) and its product InsP4, besides enhancing Rho activity and actin assembly, facilitate Ca2+ propagation across the epithelial tissue from the site of injury (Soto et al, 2013)
Summary
A prominent question in biomedical research is how organisms respond to injuries and restore the morphological and functional integrity of tissues and organs, ensuring their survival. Amongst the various model systems that have been exploited for investigating the mechanisms of scar-free healing and appendage regeneration is the anuran amphibian Xenopus laevis and its diploid relative Xenopus tropicalis. These frogs heal epidermal wounds without scar formation throughout embryonic and larval stages, and like urodele amphibians (e.g. newts, axolotls, and salamanders) they are able to regenerate limbs, tails, and lens at the larval stages (Beck, Izpisúa Belmonte, & Christen, 2009). We summarize recent findings in both wound healing and tissue regeneration in Xenopus, and we highlight the value and potential of this system for elucidating key fundamental mechanisms that permit efficient scar-free wound healing and appendage regeneration, with implications for regenerative medicine
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