title: Transcriptome profiling reveals distinctive traits of retinol metabolism and neonatal parallels in the MRL/MpJ mouse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The MRL/MpJ mouse is a laboratory inbred strain known for regenerative abilities which are manifested by scarless closure of ear pinna punch holes. Enhanced healing responses have been reported in other organs. A remarkable feature of the strain is that the adult MRL/MpJ mouse retains several embryonic biochemical characteristics, including increased expression of stem cell markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We explored the transcriptome of the MRL/MpJ mouse in the heart, liver, spleen, bone marrow and ears. We used two reference strains, thus increasing the chances to discover the genes responsible for the exceptional properties of the regenerative strain. We revealed several distinctive characteristics of gene expression patterns in the MRL/MpJ mouse, including the repression of immune response genes, the up-regulation of those associated with retinol metabolism and PPAR signalling, as well as differences in expression of the genes engaged in wounding response. Another crucial finding is that the gene expression patterns in the adult MRL/MpJ mouse and murine neonates share a number of parallels, which are also related to immune and wounding response, PPAR pathway, and retinol metabolism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate the significance of retinol signalling and neonatal transcriptomic relics as the distinguishing features of the MRL/MpJ mouse. The possibility that retinoids could act as key regulatory molecules in this regeneration model brings important implications for regenerative medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Podolak-Popinigis
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Górnikiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ronowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland. psach@pg.gda.pl.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sachadyn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000235:genetics; D004423:Ear; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics; D007633:Keratins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors; D014801:Vitamin A; D007633:Keratins