title: Blastema induction in aneurogenic state and Prrx-1 regulation by MMPs and FGFs in Ambystoma mexicanum limb regeneration.
abstract: Urodele amphibians can regenerate amputated limbs. It has been considered that differentiated dermal tissues generate multipotent and undifferentiated cells called blastema cells during limb regeneration. In early phases of limb regeneration, blastema cells are induced by nerves and the apical epithelial cap (AEC). We had previously investigated the role of neurotrophic factors in blastema or blastema-like formation consisting of Prrx-1 positive cells. A new system suitable for investigating early phases of limb regeneration, called the accessory limb model (ALM), was recently developed. In this study, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis between a blastema and wound using ALM. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling components were observed to be predominantly expressed in ALM blastema cells. Furthermore, we found that MMP activity induced a blastema marker gene, Prrx-1, in vitro, and FGF signaling pathways worked in coordination to maintain Prrx-1 expression and ALM blastema formation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that these two activities were sufficient to induce an ALM blastema in the absence of a nerve in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Okayama University, Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences (RCIS), 3-1-1, Tsushimanaka, Kitaku, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan. satoha@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Aki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: makanae
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Satou
mesh_terms: D000558:Ambystoma mexicanum / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019295:Computational Biology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005121:Extremities / Q000502:physiology*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008863:Microspheres; D023421:Models, Animal; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases