Key proteins for regeneration in A. mexicanum

Abstract

The axolotl, known for its remarkable regenerative abilities, is an excellent model for studying regenerative therapies. Nevertheless, the precise molecular mechanisms governing its regenerative potential remain uncertain. In this study, wecollected samples from axolotls of di5erent ages, including 8-year-old individuals and 8-month-old juveniles, obtaining their blastemas 10 days after amputation. Subsequently, we conducted a transcriptomic analysis comparing our samples to a set of previously published experiments. Our analysis unveiled a distinctive transcriptional response in the blastema, characterized by di5erential gene expression associated with processes such as bone and tissue remodeling, transcriptional regulation, angiogenesis, and intercellular communication. To gain deeper insights, we compared these 9ndings with those from aged axolotls that showed no signs of regeneration 10 days after amputation. We identi9ed four genes—FSTL1, ADAMTS17, GPX7, and CTHRC1—that showed higher expression in regenerating tissue compared to aged axolotls. Further scrutiny, including structural and homology analysis, revealed that these genes are conserved across vertebrate species. Our discoveries point to a group of proteins relevant to tissue regeneration, with their conservation in vertebrates suggesting critical roles in development. These findings also propose a novel gene set involved in axolotl regeneration, laying a promising foundation for future investigations across vertebrates.