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Inducing Ischemia-reperfusion Injury in the Mouse Ear Skin for Intravital Multiphoton Imaging of Immune Responses
Published on: December 22, 2016
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Spatial transcriptomics reveals asymmetric cellular responses to injury in the regenerating spiny mouse (Acomys) ear
Henriëtte van Beijnum1,2, Tim Koopmans1,2, Antonio Tomasso1,2
1Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences), 3584CT Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Genome Research
|September 19, 2023
Summary
Spiny mice (Acomys) regenerate skin scar-free, unlike other mammals. Proximal wound cues are essential for this regeneration, driven by asymmetric gene expression and unique immune responses, as revealed by spatial transcriptomics.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative biology
- Mammalian wound healing
- Comparative genomics
Background:
- Most mammals heal wounds with scarring, hindering tissue function.
- Spiny mice (Acomys) exhibit remarkable scar-free regeneration of skin and ear tissue, including appendages and cartilage.
- Ear regeneration in Acomys is an asymmetric process, with the proximal wound side playing a critical role.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying scar-free regeneration in Acomys ear wounds.
- To identify spatial and temporal gene expression patterns associated with Acomys regeneration.
- To investigate the role of injury-induced immune responses in conferring regenerative capacity.
Main Methods:
- Spatially resolved transcriptomics (tomo-seq) to map gene expression across the regenerating ear.
- Comparative analysis of gene expression between proximal and distal wound sides.
- Comparison of Acomys with non-regenerative rodents (Mus, Meriones) to identify key differences.
Main Results:
- Identified asymmetric gene expression patterns between proximal and distal wound sides in Acomys.
- Pinpointed specific regenerative processes in space and time using transcriptomic data.
- Strengthened the hypothesis that differences in injury-induced immune response contribute to regenerative ability.
Conclusions:
- Proximal wound cues are necessary for normal scar-free regeneration in Acomys.
- Asymmetric gene expression and unique immune responses are critical determinants of Acomys regenerative potential.
- Data is accessible via SpinyMine for further research into Acomys regeneration.
