Viennese researchers decipher the secret of Axolotl regeneration!

Viennese researchers decipher the secret of Axolotl regeneration!

A significant progress in regeneration research was achieved by an international team of scientists that examined the molecular mechanisms of limb regeneration in the Mexican Axolotl. The team, under the direction of Elly Tanaka at the Institute for Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, has created a detailed molecular map that proves cells to regenerate. This could have far -reaching implications for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

the Axolotl, known for its ability to reproduce lost extremities within a few months, uses crucial signal molecules. According to Kleinezeitung.at, these are FGF8, which is produced by stem cells on the front of the extremity, and SHH, which is formed by stem cells on the back. These two molecules work each other and guide the cells while forming the regenerating limb.

The meaning of hand2

An important discoverer in this research is the protein "Hand2", which acts as the main regulator. It is specifically active on the back of the limb and increases the production of SHH in the event of injuries. Researchers found that cells near the SHH source regenerate to those of the rear part, while the cells are restored as cells of the front part. These findings could indicate mechanisms that could also be important for human regeneration.

The study also shows that hundreds of factors in the genome of the Axolotl play a role in this complex regeneration. The genome of the Axolotl, which is the largest genome ever sequential at 32 billion base pairs, gives researchers decisive references to these molecular mechanisms. It was recently deciphered by an international team from Vienna, Dresden and Heidelberg, whereby the research team around Elly Tanaka developed extensive molecular tools to extensively research the regeneration skills of the Axolotl.

regenerative mechanisms and their applications

like BiOrxiv.org reports, research enables a better understanding of the Expression Patterns of SHH and FGF8 in various sizes of blastemen that occur during regeneration. It was found that these samples scale these patterns with the Blastema, which means that the system supports a constant morphogenesis of the limbs, regardless of the size of the regenerating tissue.

These findings open up perspectives for the development of organ models and new regenerative therapies that could also be used in medicine. Tanaka expresses optimism that similar mechanisms also exist in human limbs and thus enable the regeneration of limbs in mammals in the future.

The discovery of the hand2-shh signal path and understanding the complex interactions between cell signals expand our knowledge of regeneration and could help develop new therapies for injuries and degenerative diseases. The ongoing research on the Axolotl not only offers insights into the biology of regeneration, but also give hope for future medical applications.