Identification of Immune and Non-Immune Cells in Regenerating Axolotl Limbs by Single-Cell Sequencing

This study uses single-cell sequencing to identify immune cell types present in the blood and regenerating limbs of axolotls. By analyzing gene expression signatures, the researchers were able to classify different immune cell populations and observe their presence during limb regeneration. The researchers also identified non-immunological cell types, including a fibroblast-like cell population that may contribute progenitor cells to the early blastema. This provides insights into the cellular dynamics of limb regeneration in axolotls. The study provides a detailed characterization of immune cell types and their temporal changes in abundance during early regeneration. It also identifies a fibroblast-like cell population that may contribute progenitor cells to the early blastema.

• 1
  Six cell populations were identified from peripheral leukocytes presenting gene expression patterns indicative of erythrocyte, thrombocyte, neutrophil, B-cell, T-cell, and myeloid cell populations.
• 2
  In regenerating limbs, infiltrating neutrophil, macrophage, and lymphocyte populations were identified at both 1 and 6 days post-amputation (DPA). Additionally, populations expressing genes for epidermal cells, fibroblast-like cells, and endothelial cells were also identified.
• 3
  A small population of fibroblast-like cells at 1 DPA was represented by considerably more cells at 6 DPA, suggesting these may be early progenitor cells that give rise to the blastema.