A roadmap for intestinal regeneration

Regeneration of lost or injured organs is an intriguing process in which numerous cellular events take place to form the new structure. Studies of this process during reconstitution of the intestine have been performed in echinoderms, particularly in holothurians. Many cellular events triggered during regeneration have been described using the sea cucumber Holothuria glaberrima as a research model. More recent experiments have targeted the molecular mechanisms behind the process, a task that has been facilitated by the new sequencing technologies now available. In this review, we present studies involving cellular processes and the genes that have been identified to be associated with the early events of gut regeneration. We also present ongoing efforts to perform functional studies necessary to establish the role(s) of the identified genes. A synopsis of the studies is given with the course of the regenerative process established so far.