The secret of regeneration of lost limbs is stored by luminous axolotli

The secret of the limb regeneration is kept charming salamanders. They will help scientists investigate a serious question: is it possible to force the human body to grow a lost hand or leg?

The secret of the regeneration is in the genes of axolotils, which have a stupid smile and lush gills, writes Xrust. This unusual appearance Salamander won the hearts of millions. They became popular pets of aquariums and an icon of pop culture in video games.

But this charming type of salamandra also helps researchers to reveal a serious medical riddle: is it possible to force the human body to grow a crushed hand or leg?

Scientists turn to axolotol, because he is an expert in regeneration. Having lost the limb, an adult axolotle can grow it again, fresh and new.

In a study published on Tuesday, scientists used axolotles genetically modified for glow in the darkness to understand the molecular basis of this amazing feature.

They are known for the fact that, by nature, always young. Unlike other amphibians, such as frogs, axolotli never pass complete metamorphosis, instead preserving in adulthood certain youthful characteristics, such as external gills and webbed paws that make them so strange for their human fans.This species is also the kingdom king, capable of restoring not only lost limbs, but also the tissues of the heart, lungs and even the brain.

One of the miracles is that in order for part of the body to grow again, the cells responsible for this growth must somehow register, where they are on the body. If amputation occurs, for example, in the upper hand, they must recreate the upper part of the arm, then the lower part of the hand and, finally, the brush. But if this is the lower part of the hand, the cells should know that only the lower part and the brush need to grow again.

For their research, scientists took a tiny molecule called retinoic acid, which, apparently, is responsible for this thorough choreography. Vitamin A derivative, it is known for its regenerative ability and is associated with retinol, which is contained in skin care products.

Scientists worked with axolotles genetically modified in such a way that their tissues glowed in the presence of acid, which allowed them to be monitored in real time.

Students said that the axolotel had to be anesthetized and monitor what was happening. It is interesting that they do not show signs of pain or stress after amputation of the limb, as mammals can do, and are completely restored for several weeks.

With the introduction of the drug that blocks the enzyme, which is responsible for the splitting of retinoic acid, the axolotli incorrectly grew the absent limbs, and instead of the forearm the upper hand grew. The control group of animals that did not receive the drug regenerate normally.

The work suggests that retinoic acid acts as a GPS device, helping cells determine their location: the higher the concentration of acid, the closer to the center of the body. The chemical, apparently, activates the gene or genes inside the cells to regulate the growth of the limbs.

Although we are still far from the regeneration of human limbs, this study is a step in this direction. After all, when it comes to the regeneration of human limbs, you should know that each cell already contains drawings in its DNA to restore parts of the body. It remains to find a gene that orders to “restore.”

Xrust, the secret of the regeneration of lost limbs keep luminous axoles