Wnt Signaling Coordinates the Expression of Limb Patterning Genes During Axolotl Forelimb Development and Regeneration

Axolotl salamanders can regenerate their limbs after amputation, offering a unique opportunity to study how regeneration mirrors development. This study investigates the role of Wnt signaling, a pathway crucial for limb development, in both limb development and regeneration in axolotls. The researchers examined the expression patterns of Wnt signaling genes and other limb patterning genes during both limb development and regeneration. They also used a drug, C59, to inhibit Wnt signaling and observed the effects on limb development and gene expression. The findings suggest that Wnt signaling is essential for both limb development and regeneration in axolotls, with similar gene expression patterns and responses to Wnt inhibition observed in both processes. The study also reveals unique aspects of Wnt signaling in axolotls compared to other animals, like mice and chicks.

• 1
  Wnt signaling is necessary for the early stages of limb bud outgrowth. Treatment with C59 at stage 40 permanently inhibited limb development.
• 2
  Inhibition of Wnt signaling during limb outgrowth decreases the expression of critical signaling genes, including Fgf10, Fgf8, and Shh, leading to reduced outgrowth of the limb.
• 3
  Patterns of gene expression are similar between developing and regenerating limbs. Inhibition of Wnt signaling during regeneration impacted patterning gene expression similarly.