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Bölük A, Yavuz M, Demircan T. Axolotl: A resourceful vertebrate model for regeneration and beyond. Dev Dyn 2022; 251:1914-1933. [PMID: 35906989 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The regenerative capacity varies significantly among the animal kingdom. Successful regeneration program in some animals results in the functional restoration of tissues and lost structures. Among the highly regenerative animals, axolotl provides multiple experimental advantages with its many extraordinary characteristics. It has been positioned as a regeneration model organism due to its exceptional renewal capacity, including the internal organs, central nervous system, and appendages, in a scar-free manner. In addition to this unique regeneration ability, the observed low cancer incidence, its resistance to carcinogens, and the reversing effect of its cell extract on neoplasms strongly suggest its usability in cancer research. Axolotl's longevity and efficient utilization of several anti-aging mechanisms underline its potential to be employed in aging studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aydın Bölük
- School of Medicine, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Turkey
| | - Mervenur Yavuz
- Institute of Health Sciences, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Turkey
| | - Turan Demircan
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Turkey
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2
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Tilley L, Papadopoulos SC, Pende M, Fei JF, Murawala P. The use of transgenics in the laboratory axolotl. Dev Dyn 2021; 251:942-956. [PMID: 33949035 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to generate transgenic animals sparked a wave of research committed to implementing such technology in a wide variety of model organisms. Building a solid base of ubiquitous and tissue-specific reporter lines has set the stage for later interrogations of individual cells or genetic elements. Compared to other widely used model organisms such as mice, zebrafish and fruit flies, there are only a few transgenic lines available in the laboratory axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), although their number is steadily expanding. In this review, we discuss a brief history of the transgenic methodologies in axolotl and their advantages and disadvantages. Next, we discuss available transgenic lines and insights we have been able to glean from them. Finally, we list challenges when developing transgenic axolotl, and where further work is needed in order to improve their standing as both a developmental and regenerative model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Tilley
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (MDIBL), Salisbury Cove, Maine, USA
| | - Sofia-Christina Papadopoulos
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (MDIBL), Salisbury Cove, Maine, USA.,Clinic for Kidney and Hypertension Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Marko Pende
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (MDIBL), Salisbury Cove, Maine, USA
| | - Ji-Feng Fei
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Prayag Murawala
- Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (MDIBL), Salisbury Cove, Maine, USA.,Clinic for Kidney and Hypertension Diseases, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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3
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Dwaraka VB, Voss SR. Towards comparative analyses of salamander limb regeneration. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2021; 336:129-144. [PMID: 31584252 PMCID: PMC8908358 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Among tetrapods, only salamanders can regenerate their limbs and tails throughout life. This amazing regenerative ability has attracted the attention of scientists for hundreds of years. Now that large, salamander genomes are beginning to be sequenced for the first time, omics tools and approaches can be used to integrate new perspectives into the study of tissue regeneration. Here we argue the need to move beyond the primary salamander models to investigate regeneration in other species. Salamanders at first glance come across as a phylogenetically conservative group that has not diverged greatly from their ancestors. While salamanders do present ancestral characteristics of basal tetrapods, including the ability to regenerate limbs, data from fossils and data from studies that have tested for species differences suggest there may be considerable variation in how salamanders develop and regenerate their limbs. We review the case for expanded studies of salamander tissue regeneration and identify questions and approaches that are most likely to reveal commonalities and differences in regeneration among species. We also address challenges that confront such an initiative, some of which are regulatory and not scientific. The time is right to gain evolutionary perspective about mechanisms of tissue regeneration from comparative studies of salamander species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varun B. Dwaraka
- Department of Neuroscience, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, and Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - S. Randal Voss
- Department of Neuroscience, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, and Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
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Sibai M, Parlayan C, Tuğlu P, Öztürk G, Demircan T. Integrative Analysis of Axolotl Gene Expression Data from Regenerative and Wound Healing Limb Tissues. Sci Rep 2019; 9:20280. [PMID: 31889169 PMCID: PMC6937273 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56829-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a urodele amphibian endowed with remarkable regenerative capacities manifested in scarless wound healing and restoration of amputated limbs, which makes it a powerful experimental model for regenerative biology and medicine. Previous studies have utilized microarrays and RNA-Seq technologies for detecting differentially expressed (DE) genes in different phases of the axolotl limb regeneration. However, sufficient consistency may be lacking due to statistical limitations arising from intra-laboratory analyses. This study aims to bridge such gaps by performing an integrative analysis of publicly available microarray and RNA-Seq data from axolotl limb samples having comparable study designs using the "merging" method. A total of 351 genes were found DE in regenerative samples compared to the control in data of both technologies, showing an adjusted p-value < 0.01 and log fold change magnitudes >1. Downstream analyses illustrated consistent correlations of the directionality of DE genes within and between data of both technologies, as well as concordance with the literature on regeneration related biological processes. qRT-PCR analysis validated the observed expression level differences of five of the top DE genes. Future studies may benefit from the utilized concept and approach for enhanced statistical power and robust discovery of biomarkers of regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Sibai
- Graduate School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Cüneyd Parlayan
- Regenerative and Restorative Medicine Research Center, REMER, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, İstanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Pelin Tuğlu
- Regenerative and Restorative Medicine Research Center, REMER, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gürkan Öztürk
- Regenerative and Restorative Medicine Research Center, REMER, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Physiology, International School of Medicine, İstanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Turan Demircan
- Regenerative and Restorative Medicine Research Center, REMER, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey.
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey.
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Fei JF, Lou WPK, Knapp D, Murawala P, Gerber T, Taniguchi Y, Nowoshilow S, Khattak S, Tanaka EM. Application and optimization of CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome engineering in axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum). Nat Protoc 2018; 13:2908-2943. [PMID: 30429597 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-018-0071-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Genomic manipulation is essential to the use of model organisms to understand development, regeneration and adult physiology. The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), a type of salamander, exhibits an unparalleled regenerative capability in a spectrum of complex tissues and organs, and therefore serves as a powerful animal model for dissecting mechanisms of regeneration. We describe here an optimized stepwise protocol to create genetically modified axolotls using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. The protocol, which takes 7-8 weeks to complete, describes generation of targeted gene knockouts and knock-ins and includes site-specific integration of large targeting constructs. The direct use of purified CAS9-NLS (CAS9 containing a C-terminal nuclear localization signal) protein allows the prompt formation of guide RNA (gRNA)-CAS9-NLS ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, which accelerates the creation of double-strand breaks (DSBs) at targeted genomic loci in single-cell-stage axolotl eggs. With this protocol, a substantial number of F0 individuals harboring a homozygous-type frameshift mutation can be obtained, allowing phenotype analysis in this generation. In the presence of targeting constructs, insertions of exogenous genes into targeted axolotl genomic loci can be achieved at efficiencies of up to 15% in a non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) manner. Our protocol bypasses the long generation time of axolotls and allows direct functional analysis in F0 genetically manipulated axolotls. This protocol can be potentially applied to other animal models, especially to organisms with a well-characterized transcriptome but lacking a well-characterized genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Feng Fei
- Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation (IBRR), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Wilson Pak-Kin Lou
- School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
- The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Dunja Knapp
- DFG Center for Regenerative Therapies, Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Prayag Murawala
- The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Tobias Gerber
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Yuka Taniguchi
- The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Sergej Nowoshilow
- The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Shahryar Khattak
- DFG Center for Regenerative Therapies, Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Elly M Tanaka
- The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
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6
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Abstract
Humans and other mammals are limited in their natural abilities to regenerate lost body parts. By contrast, many salamanders are highly regenerative and can spontaneously replace lost limbs even as adults. Because salamander limbs are anatomically similar to human limbs, knowing how they regenerate should provide important clues for regenerative medicine. Although interest in understanding the mechanics of this process has never wavered, until recently researchers have been vexed by seemingly impenetrable logistics of working with these creatures at a molecular level. Chief among the problems has been the very large size of salamander genomes, and not a single salamander genome has been fully sequenced to date. Recently the enormous gap in sequence information has been bridged by approaches that leverage mRNA as the starting point. Together with functional experimentation, these data are rapidly enabling researchers to finally uncover the molecular mechanisms underpinning the astonishing biological process of limb regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Haas
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT) and Harvard, Klarman Cell Observatory, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Jessica L Whited
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and Brigham and Women's Hospital Department of Orthopedic Surgery, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Saltman AJ, Barakat M, Bryant DM, Brodovskaya A, Whited JL. DiI Perfusion as a Method for Vascular Visualization in Ambystoma mexicanum. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28654050 DOI: 10.3791/55740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Perfusion techniques have been used for centuries to visualize the circulation of tissues. Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a species of salamander that has emerged as an essential model for regeneration studies. Little is known about how revascularization occurs in the context of regeneration in these animals. Here we report a simple method for visualization of the vasculature in axolotl via perfusion of 1,1'-Dioctadecy-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI). DiI is a lipophilic carbocyanine dye that inserts into the plasma membrane of endothelial cells instantaneously. Perfusion is done using a peristaltic pump such that DiI enters the circulation through the aorta. During perfusion, dye flows through the axolotl's blood vessels and incorporates into the lipid bilayer of vascular endothelial cells upon contact. The perfusion procedure takes approximately one hour for an eight-inch axolotl. Immediately after perfusion with DiI, the axolotl can be visualized with a confocal fluorescent microscope. The DiI emits light in the red-orange range when excited with a green fluorescent filter. This DiI perfusion procedure can be used to visualize the vascular structure of axolotls or to demonstrate patterns of revascularization in regenerating tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna J Saltman
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital; Division of Graduate Medical Sciences, Boston University
| | - May Barakat
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital
| | - Donald M Bryant
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital
| | - Anastasia Brodovskaya
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital
| | - Jessica L Whited
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital;
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Woodcock MR, Vaughn-Wolfe J, Elias A, Kump DK, Kendall KD, Timoshevskaya N, Timoshevskiy V, Perry DW, Smith JJ, Spiewak JE, Parichy DM, Voss SR. Identification of Mutant Genes and Introgressed Tiger Salamander DNA in the Laboratory Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6. [PMID: 28127056 PMCID: PMC5428337 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00059-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular genetic toolkit of the Mexican axolotl, a classic model organism, has matured to the point where it is now possible to identify genes for mutant phenotypes. We used a positional cloning-candidate gene approach to identify molecular bases for two historic axolotl pigment phenotypes: white and albino. White (d/d) mutants have defects in pigment cell morphogenesis and differentiation, whereas albino (a/a) mutants lack melanin. We identified in white mutants a transcriptional defect in endothelin 3 (edn3), encoding a peptide factor that promotes pigment cell migration and differentiation in other vertebrates. Transgenic restoration of Edn3 expression rescued the homozygous white mutant phenotype. We mapped the albino locus to tyrosinase (tyr) and identified polymorphisms shared between the albino allele (tyr a ) and tyr alleles in a Minnesota population of tiger salamanders from which the albino trait was introgressed. tyr a has a 142 bp deletion and similar engineered alleles recapitulated the albino phenotype. Finally, we show that historical introgression of tyr a significantly altered genomic composition of the laboratory axolotl, yielding a distinct, hybrid strain of ambystomatid salamander. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of identifying genes for traits in the laboratory Mexican axolotl.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Ryan Woodcock
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 USA
| | | | | | - D. Kevin Kump
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 USA
| | - Katharina Denise Kendall
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 USA
- School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana IL 61801 USA
| | | | | | - Dustin W. Perry
- Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, 535 W 2nd Suite l0, Lexington, KY 40508 USA
| | - Jeramiah J. Smith
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 USA
| | | | - David M. Parichy
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903 USA
| | - S. Randal Voss
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 USA
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Xiang MSW, Kikuchi K. Endogenous Mechanisms of Cardiac Regeneration. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 326:67-131. [PMID: 27572127 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish possess a remarkable capacity for cardiac regeneration throughout their lifetime, providing a model for investigating endogenous cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating myocardial regeneration. By contrast, adult mammals have an extremely limited capacity for cardiac regeneration, contributing to mortality and morbidity from cardiac diseases such as myocardial infarction and heart failure. However, the viewpoint of the mammalian heart as a postmitotic organ was recently revised based on findings that the mammalian heart contains multiple undifferentiated cell types with cardiogenic potential as well as a robust regenerative capacity during a short period early in life. Although it occurs at an extremely low level, continuous cardiomyocyte turnover has been detected in adult mouse and human hearts, which could potentially be enhanced to restore lost myocardium in damaged human hearts. This review summarizes and discusses recent advances in the understanding of endogenous mechanisms of cardiac regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S W Xiang
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst NSW, Australia
| | - K Kikuchi
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst NSW, Australia; St. Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Kensington NSW, Australia.
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