Putative epithelial-mesenchymal transitions during salamander limb regeneration: Current perspectives and future investigations. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2024 Oct; 1540(1):89-103.

Citation

Kim RT, Whited JL. 2024. Putative epithelial-mesenchymal transitions during salamander limb regeneration: Current perspectives and future investigations. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1540(1):89-103. Pubmed: 39269330 DOI:10.1111/nyas.15210

Abstract

Previous 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.

Related Faculty

Jessica Whited, Ph.D.

Whited Lab

Jessica Whited studies limb regeneration in axolotl salamanders. Her lab develops tools to manipulate gene expression during limb regeneration, and explores signaling events following wound healing that initiate the regenerative process.