FGF-10 stimulates limb regeneration ability in Xenopus laevis.
By reciprocal transplantation experiments with regenerative and nonregenerative Xenopus limbs, we recently demonstrated that the regenerative capacity of a Xenopus limb depends on mesenchymal tissue and we suggested that fgf-10 is likely to be involved in this capacity (Yokoyama et al., 2000, Dev. Biol. 219, 18-29). However, the data obtained in that study are not conclusive evidence that FGF-10 is responsible for the regenerative capacity. We therefore investigated the role of FGF-10 in regenerative capacity by directly introducing FGF-10 protein into nonregenerative Xenopus limb stumps. Exogenously applied FGF-10 successfully stimulated the regenerative capacity, resulting in the reinduction of all gene expressions (including shh, msx-1, and fgf-10) that we examined and the regeneration of well-patterned limb structures. We report here for the first time that a certain molecule activates the regenerative capacity of Xenopus limb, and this finding suggests that FGF-10 could be a key molecule in possible regeneration of nonregenerative limbs in higher vertebrates.
Yokoyama
H
H
Biological Institute, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Aoba-yama, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan.
Ide
H
H
Tamura
K
K
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D001846:Bone Development; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000254:growth & development*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051957:MSX1 Transcription Factor; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D051957:MSX1 Transcription Factor; C497996:MSX1 protein, Xenopus; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C496466:fgf10 protein, Xenopus; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors