Title:
Can we regenerate our missing body parts like an axolotl?

Akira Satoh　Associate Professor
Research Core for interdisciplinary sciences, Okayama University PRESTO, JST

Abstract:
We cannot regenerate our missing body parts. In contrast, urodele amphibians have powerful regeneration capability. They can regenerate many body parts, such as a brain, tail, gill, heart, and limb. What is the trick of their regeneration capability? To answer this, we focus on limb regeneration capability. Limb regeneration in urodele amphibians has been studied for a long time. The history of limb regeneration is more than 200 years. However, studying limb regeneration using an amputated limb had not been well succeeded. At the very beginning of limb regeneration, undifferentiated cells are induced from fully differentiated tissues/cells. Those undifferentiated cells are called blastema cells. The blastema cells can re-differentiate into varied cell types during limb regeneration. So, the blastema cell induction is, so to speak, an endogenous reprogramming. This endogenous re-programming mechanism is the main topic in amphibian limb regeneration. To elucidate the reprogramming mechanism, the early phase of limb regeneration should be focused because blastema cell is induced in the very early phase of limb regeneration. However, it had been difficult to focus on the early phase of limb regeneration. When a limb is amputated, multiple reactions take place at the same time and place. This complexity is the issue. To simplify limb regeneration, we have developed an entirely new study system called the accessory limb model (ALM). Using this study system, we have found many clues to limb regeneration. Using Roche 454 sequencing technique, we have found some factors, which play important roles in amphibian limb regeneration. And we have tried to apply such identified factors onto higher vertebrates, such as a chick and mouse. I would like to introduce our research activities and discuss about our “sleeping regeneration capability.”