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Ectopic Fgf signaling induces the intercalary response in developing chicken limb buds
1Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences (RCIS), Okayama University, 3-1-1, Tsushimanaka, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8530 Japan.
Zoological Letters
|May 4, 2018
Summary
Limb regeneration involves intercalary pattern formation. Researchers transferred insights from amphibians to chick limb buds, inducing regeneration and finding conserved mechanisms between species. This suggests regeneration is possible in non-regenerating animals.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Comparative Anatomy
Background:
- Intercalary pattern formation is crucial for amphibian limb regeneration.
- This process involves inducing intermediate structures between proximal and distal limb identities.
- Fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) signaling plays a key role in amphibian intercalary responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate intercalary regeneration mechanisms in chick limb buds by applying insights from amphibian models.
- To compare the cellular contributions and molecular responses in chick and amphibian limb regeneration.
- To explore the potential for inducing limb regeneration in amniotes.
Main Methods:
- Dissection of chick limb bud zeugopodial parts and re-joining proximal and distal segments.
- Ectopic delivery of Fgf2 and Fgf8 to induce intercalary elements.
- Analysis of HoxA11 expression, apoptosis, and cell proliferation.
- Investigation of cellular contributions in both chicken and axolotl models.
Main Results:
- Ectopic Fgf2 + Fgf8 successfully induced zeugopodial elements in chick limb buds.
- HoxA11 expression, apoptosis, and cell proliferation patterns were analyzed for comparison with amphibian regeneration.
- Consistent cellular contributions were observed between the chick intercalary response and axolotl limb regeneration.
Conclusions:
- The study revealed conserved principles of limb regeneration between regeneration-competent amphibians and regeneration-incompetent chicks.
- Findings highlight similarities in cellular contribution and response mechanisms.
- The research proposes the feasibility of inducing regeneration responses in amniotes, opening new avenues in regenerative medicine.
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