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Injury-induced electrochemical coupling triggers organ growth.
Jinghui Liu1,2,3,4, Elisa Nerli1,2, Charlie Duclut5
1Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
Science Advances
|February 4, 2026
Summary
Organ repair relies on electrical signals generated by membrane potential changes and intracellular signaling to activate cell proliferation. This study reveals how these fast electrical signals couple with slower intracellular responses for complete organ regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cellular Electrophysiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Organ injury initiates nonneuronal electric currents crucial for regeneration.
- The precise mechanisms of electrical signal generation, sensing, and transmission during organ repair are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of electrochemical coupling in organ repair and cell proliferation.
- To investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of electrical signaling following tissue damage.
Main Methods:
- Subsecond live imaging of locally injured zebrafish larval fins.
- Electrophysiological recordings and analysis of membrane potential changes.
- Development and application of an electrodiffusive model.
Main Results:
- Identified a millisecond-scale, long-range membrane depolarization gradient post-injury.
- Observed second-persistent intracellular calcium responses following electrical signaling.
- Demonstrated that voltage-sensing phosphatase translates electrical signals into intracellular events promoting proliferation.
- Showed coupling between ionic fluxes and electric potential in the interstitial space for organ-wide signal spread.
Conclusions:
- Organ repair involves dynamic electrochemical coupling between membrane potential depolarization and intracellular signaling.
- Fast electrical signals are coupled with slower intracellular signaling pathways to ensure complete organ recovery.
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