Affiliation:
1. Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts USA
2. Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT Cambridge Massachusetts USA
3. Harvard Stem Cell Institute Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts USA
Abstract
AbstractPrevious studies have implicated epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in salamander limb regeneration. In this review, we describe putative roles for EMT during each stage of limb regeneration in axolotls and other salamanders. We hypothesize that EMT and EMT‐like gene expression programs may regulate three main cellular processes during limb regeneration: (1) keratinocyte migration during wound closure; (2) transient invasion of the stump by epithelial cells undergoing EMT; and (3) use of EMT‐like programs by non‐epithelial blastemal progenitor cells to escape the confines of their niches. Finally, we propose nontraditional roles for EMT during limb regeneration that warrant further investigation, including alternative EMT regulators, stem cell activation, and fibrosis induced by aberrant EMT.
Funder
National Science Foundation
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development