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Review
. 2024 Oct;1540(1):89-103.
doi: 10.1111/nyas.15210. Epub 2024 Sep 13.

Putative epithelial-mesenchymal transitions during salamander limb regeneration: Current perspectives and future investigations

Ryan T Kim  1 , Jessica L Whited  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Putative epithelial-mesenchymal transitions during salamander limb regeneration: Current perspectives and future investigations

Ryan T Kim et al. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2024 Oct.

Abstract

Previous studies have implicated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in salamander limb regeneration. In this review, we describe putative roles for EMT during each stage of limb regeneration in axolotls and other salamanders. We hypothesize that EMT and EMT-like gene expression programs may regulate three main cellular processes during limb regeneration: (1) keratinocyte migration during wound closure; (2) transient invasion of the stump by epithelial cells undergoing EMT; and (3) use of EMT-like programs by non-epithelial blastemal progenitor cells to escape the confines of their niches. Finally, we propose nontraditional roles for EMT during limb regeneration that warrant further investigation, including alternative EMT regulators, stem cell activation, and fibrosis induced by aberrant EMT.

Keywords: axolotl; blastema; epithelial–mesenchymal transition; limb regeneration; mesenchymal–epithelial transition.

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Conflict of interest statement

COMPETING INTERESTS

J.L.W. is a co-founder of Matice Biosciences.

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