Spatiotemporal control of cell cycle acceleration during axolotl spinal cord regeneration

Axolotls can regenerate their spinal cords after injury. This study investigates how cell proliferation is controlled during this regeneration process. The researchers developed a model and an imaging tool to understand the timing and location of cell division during spinal cord regeneration in axolotls. The study combines mathematical modeling with experimental data. They created a new transgenic axolotl line called AxFUCCI that allows them to visualize cell cycle phases in living tissue. This helps to understand the signals that drive successful spinal cord regeneration. The research showed that a signal recruits ependymal cells within a specific distance from the injury site during a specific time window, leading to accelerated cell cycles and spinal cord outgrowth. They also found evidence of cell cycle synchrony among ependymal cells during regeneration.

• 1
  Spinal cord regeneration is consistent with a signal that recruits ependymal cells during approximately 85 hours after amputation within approximately 830 μm of the injury.
• 2
  The FUCCI axolotls confirmed the predicted appearance time and size of the injury-induced recruitment zone and revealed cell cycle synchrony between ependymal cells.
• 3
  Shortening of the S phase of the cell cycle is sufficient to explain the initial regenerative spinal cord outgrowth.