TY - JOUR

T1 - Structural and functional characterization of the FGF signaling pathway in regeneration of the polychaete worm Alitta virens (Annelida, Errantia)

AU - Shalaeva, Alexandra Y.

AU - Kostyuchenko, Roman P.

AU - Kozin, Vitaly V.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee. MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

PY - 2021/6

Y1 - 2021/6

N2 - Epimorphic regeneration of lost body segments is a widespread phenomenon across annelids. However, the molecular inducers of the cell sources for this reparative morphogenesis have not been identified. In this study, we focused on the role of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling in the posterior regeneration of Alitta virens. For the first time, we showed an early activation of FGF ligands and receptor expression in an annelid regenerating after amputation. The expression patterns indicate that the entire regenerative bud is competent to FGFs, whose activity precedes the initiation of cell proliferation. The critical requirement of FGF signaling, especially at early stages, is also supported by inhibitor treatments followed by proliferation assay, demonstrating that induction of blastemal cells depends on FGFs. Our results show that FGF signaling pathway is a key player in regenerative response, while the FGF-positive wound epithelium, ventral nerve cord and some mesodermal cells around the gut could be the inducing tissues. This mechanism resembles reparative regeneration of vertebrate appendages suggesting such a response to the injury may be ancestral for all bilaterians.

AB - Epimorphic regeneration of lost body segments is a widespread phenomenon across annelids. However, the molecular inducers of the cell sources for this reparative morphogenesis have not been identified. In this study, we focused on the role of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling in the posterior regeneration of Alitta virens. For the first time, we showed an early activation of FGF ligands and receptor expression in an annelid regenerating after amputation. The expression patterns indicate that the entire regenerative bud is competent to FGFs, whose activity precedes the initiation of cell proliferation. The critical requirement of FGF signaling, especially at early stages, is also supported by inhibitor treatments followed by proliferation assay, demonstrating that induction of blastemal cells depends on FGFs. Our results show that FGF signaling pathway is a key player in regenerative response, while the FGF-positive wound epithelium, ventral nerve cord and some mesodermal cells around the gut could be the inducing tissues. This mechanism resembles reparative regeneration of vertebrate appendages suggesting such a response to the injury may be ancestral for all bilaterians.

KW - invertebrates

KW - annelids

KW - Nereis

KW - dedifferentiation

KW - blastema induction

KW - evolution

KW - segmentation

KW - axis elongation

KW - SU5402

KW - Annelids

KW - Fibroblast growth factor

KW - Segmentation

KW - Axis elongation

KW - Dedifferentiation

KW - Evolution

KW - Blastema induction

KW - Invertebrates

KW - Cell Proliferation

KW - Signal Transduction

KW - Fibroblast Growth Factors/genetics

KW - Regeneration

KW - Animals

KW - Annelida/genetics

KW - Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor/genetics

KW - GASTRULATION

KW - fibroblast growth factor

KW - CELLS

KW - MESODERM DEVELOPMENT

KW - ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

KW - MORPHOGENESIS

KW - GENE

KW - GROWTH-FACTOR

KW - EMBRYOGENESIS

KW - EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY

KW - EXPRESSION

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85107150399&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3390/genes12060788

DO - 10.3390/genes12060788

M3 - Article

C2 - 34063978

VL - 12

JO - Genes

JF - Genes

SN - 2073-4425

IS - 6

M1 - 788

ER -