Project description:Blastema formation is a hallmark of limb regeneration that requires proliferation and migration of progenitors derived from many tissues to the amputation plane. To better understand the genetic programs that initiate limb regeneration, we reasoned that blastemal progenitors would be among early proliferating cells in the stump following amputation. Here we separately profiled dividing and non-dividing stump tissues, as well as the wound epidermis, during early axolotl limb regeneration to examine transcriptional programs of blastemal progenitors. We provide a description of the changes in gene expression specific to early dividing cells at the site of amputation, inclusive of progenitors for the regenerating limb. This work collectively demonstrates differential suppression/activation of core developmental signaling pathways in subsets of the early regenerating limb and further suggests that interleukin-8 (il-8) signaling is important for regeneration.
Project description:Identification of progenitors populations through FACS in the early limb buds (E10.5 and E11.5) followed by RNA-seq. These populations showed distinct signalling pathways, that were confirmed in vitro and in vivo.
Project description:Amputation of the axolotl forelimb results in the formation of a blastema, a transient tissue where progenitor cells accumulate prior to limb regeneration. Connective tissue (CT) – skeleton, periskeleton, tendon, dermis, interstitial cells – contributes the vast majority of cells that populate the blastema, however it is unclear how individual CT cells may reprogram their fate in order to rebuild the tetrapod limb. Here we use a combination of Cre-loxP reporter lineage tracking and single-cell (sc) RNA-seq to molecularly track, for the first time, adult CT cell heterogeneity and its transition to a limb blastema state. We uncover a multi-phasic molecular program where CT cell types found in the uninjured adult limb revert to a relatively homogenous progenitor state that participates in inflammation and extracellular matrix disassembly prior to proliferation, establishment of positional information, and ultimately re-differentiation. While the early regeneration transcriptome states are unique to the blastema, the later stages recapitulate embryonic limb development. Notably, we do not find evidence of a pre-existing blastema-like precursor nor limb bud-like progenitors in the uninjured adult tissue. However, we find that distinct CT subpopulations in the adult limb differentially contribute to proximal and distal portions of the regenerated limb. Together, our data illuminates molecular and cellular reprogramming during complex organ regeneration in a vertebrate.
Project description:Identifying the genetic program that induces limb regeneration in salamanders is an important resource for regenerative medicine, which currently lacks tools to promote regeneration of functional body structures. The genetic network underlying limb regeneration has been elusive due to the complexity of the injury response that occurs concomitant to blastema formation. Here we performed parallel expression profile time courses of non-regenerative lateral wounds versus amputated limbs in axolotl. We show that limb regeneration occurs in three distinguishable phases--early wound healing followed by a transition phase leading to establishment of the limb development program. By focusing on the transition phase, we identified 93 strictly regeneration-associated genes involved in oxidative stress response, chromatin modification, epithelial development and limb development. The specific expression of the genes was confirmed by in situ hybridization. Regeneration-specific expression databases are critical resources for understanding how regeneration-relevant phenotypes can be induced from adult cells Regeneration of the axolotl forelimb lower arm was compared with the healing of a deep lateral injury in a high density timecourse (uncut, 3h, 6h, 9h, 12h, 24h, 36h, 52h, 72h, 120h, 168h, 288h and 528h after injury). Three independent biological replicates were performed using separate cluches of animals. Amputated and lateral wound samples were made as matched contralateral samples of four pooled animals per timepoint.
Project description:The early limb bud consists of mesenchymal progenitors (limb progenitors) derived from the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) that produce most of the tissues of the mature limb bud. The LPM also gives rise to the mesodermal components of the trunk, flank and neck. However, the mesenchymal cells generated at these other axial levels cannot produce the variety of cell types found in the limb bud, nor can they be directed to form a patterned appendage-like structure, even when placed in the context of the signals responsible for organizing the limb bud. Here, by taking advantage of a direct reprogramming approach, we find a set of factors (Prdm16, Zbtb16, and Lin28) normally expressed in the early limb bud, that are capable of imparting limb progenitor-like properties to non-limb fibroblasts. Cells reprogrammed by these factors show similar gene expression profiles, and can differentiate into similar cell types, as endogenous limb progenitors. The further addition of Lin41 potentiates proliferation of the reprogrammed cells while suppressing differentiation. These results suggest that these same four key factors may play pivotal roles in the specification of endogenous limb progenitors.
Project description:The early limb bud consists of mesenchymal progenitors (limb progenitors) derived from the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) that produce most of the tissues of the mature limb bud. The LPM also gives rise to the mesodermal components of the trunk, flank and neck. However, the mesenchymal cells generated at these other axial levels cannot produce the variety of cell types found in the limb bud, nor can they be directed to form a patterned appendage-like structure, even when placed in the context of the signals responsible for organizing the limb bud. Here, by taking advantage of a direct reprogramming approach, we find a set of factors (Prdm16, Zbtb16, and Lin28) normally expressed in the early limb bud, that are capable of imparting limb progenitor-like properties to non-limb fibroblasts. Cells reprogrammed by these factors show similar gene expression profiles, and can differentiate into similar cell types, as endogenous limb progenitors. The further addition of Lin41 potentiates proliferation of the reprogrammed cells while suppressing differentiation. These results suggest that these same four key factors may play pivotal roles in the specification of endogenous limb progenitors.
Project description:Tissue regeneration is widely distributed across the tree of life. Among vertebrates, salamanders possess an exceptional ability to regenerate amputated limbs and other complex structures. Thus far, molecular insights about limb regeneration have come from a relatively limited number of species from two closely related salamander families. To gain broader perspective on the molecular basis of limb regeneration and enhance the molecular toolkit of an emerging plethodontid salamander (Bolitoglossa ramosi), we used RNA-seq to generate transcript sequence data and identify 602 genes that are differentially expressed during limb regeneration. This list was further processed to identify a core set of genes that exhibit conserved expression changes between B. ramosi and the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), and presumably their common ancestor approximately 180 million years ago. Our study highlights the importance of developing comparative gene expression data for studies of limb regeneration among salamanders. All animals used in this work were collected under the Contract on Genetic Access for scientific research for non commercial profit (Contrato de acceso a recursos genéticos para la investigación científica sin interés commercial) to Resources number 118–2015.
Project description:Salamanders completely regenerate their limbs after amputation. Thus, these animals are unique models to investigate the mechanisms modulating the regeneration in vertebrates. To investigate the influence of microRNAs on the newt limb regeneration, an integrative analysis of microRNAome, transcriptome, and proteome were performed.
Project description:Humans and other tetrapods are considered to require apical-ectodermal-ridge, AER, cells for limb development, and AER-like cells are suggested to be re-formed to initiate limb regeneration. Paradoxically, the presence of AER in the axolotl, the primary regeneration model organism, remains controversial. Here, by leveraging a single-cell transcriptomics-based multi-species atlas, composed of axolotl, human, mouse, chicken, and frog cells, we first established that axolotls contain cells with AER characteristics. Surprisingly, further analyses and spatial transcriptomics revealed that axolotl limbs do not fully re-form AER cells during regeneration. Moreover, the axolotl mesoderm displays part of the AER machinery, revealing a novel program for limb (re)growth. These results clarify the debate about the axolotl AER and the extent to which the limb developmental program is recapitulated during regeneration.