In his current research, there are still gaps to fill: how the CYP26B1 gradient is regulated, how retinoic acid connects to the Shox The gene and what downstream factors determine the formation of specific structures, such as the humerus or the radius bones.

From healing to regeneration

Monaghan explains that Axolotles do not have a “magic gene” for regeneration, but share the same fundamental genes as humans. “The different key lies in the accessibility of these genes. While an injury in active men of genes which induce scars, in the salamanders Cell dedifferentiation: Cells return to an embryonic type state, where they can respond to signals such as retinoic acid. This competence to return to a “state of development” is the basis of their regeneration, “explains the researcher.

I know that if humans have the same genes, why can’t we regenerate? “The different is that the salamander can react [developmental] Program after injury. “Humans cannot – they only access this development path during initial growth before birth.

Monaghan says that, in theory, it would not be necessary to modify human DNA to induce regeneration, but intervene at the right time and the right place of the body with regulatory molecules. For example, the molecular routes which signal a cell to be located in the elbow on the pink side – and not the thumb – reactivate in a regenerative environment of user technologies such as CRISPR. “This underestimated cap must be applied in therapies on stem cells. Currently, the stem cells cultivated in the laboratory do not know” where they are “when they are transplanted. If they can be programmed with specific position signals, they could integrate properly into damaged tissues and contributes to the regeneration of the Studuturals, as the formation of a complete humerus” researcher.

After years of work, stressing the role of retinoic acid – Stry since 1981 – is a source of deep satisfaction for Monaghan. The scientist imagines a future where a patch placed on an injury can reactivate the development program in human cells, emulating the regenerative mechanism of Salamander. Although he is not immediate, he believes that cell engineering induce regeneration is already an objective within the reach of science.

He is thinking about how axolotl had a second scientific life. “It was a dominant model a hundred years ago, then fell into the district for decades, and now thanked thanks to modern tools such as gene edition and cell analysis. The team can study any gene and cell during the rarity of the regeneration process.”

This story initially looked at Cable EN ESPAñol and has been translated from Spanish.